Are Video Games The Enemy?

Video games can be very effective tools for learning, for education, and for fun. The thing is, as a parent, you need to monitor the video games, not just the games themselves, but how much time the kids are spending on them, whether or not they are learning from them, and whether or not they are violent. Make sure you're part of your child's games and know what's going on. Video games don't have to be an enemy. They can certainly be a part of a constructive life, but you have to realize that it is one aspect and not everything.

Should Women Lift Weights?

It is an interesting question. Is it good for a woman to lift weights as part of an exercise program? There was a time when women were told not to lift weights and you can still hear many women say they didn't want to lift weights for fear that they would become too bulky or build muscles, and that they would only lose it and have it turn to fat. Actually, weightlifting can be an great form of exercise. There are several key advantages. First, when a person builds muscle, the muscle actually helps increase the basal metabolic rate or metabolism. In addition, lifting lighter weights with multiple repetitions helps build core strength. The important thing to do is make certain that you know what you're doing so you don't injure yourself. This applies to anyone lifting weights. You should also continue to keep aerobics as part of your workout. Weightlifting can certainly be a big part of your exercise.

Too Much Exercise??

Can we exercise too much? Believe it or not, some people do. They actually push the envelope a little too hard. Exercise is a great thing, but if you begin to exercise too much, too hard, and too aggressively, your body can wear down, especially as you get older. What I suggest is building a comfort level and remaining consistent. The consistency is the tough thing because it's very hard to keep exercise going with the other pressures we have in life. But I'm telling you right now, you should take advantage of it. Get out there and exercise.

Thanksgiving Safety: Driving

We talk a great deal about drunk driving and certainly this is a major issue when it comes to safety on the road. Today you need to be particularly careful about so many people travelling and, yes, some who may be drinking and driving. Be extra alert and wear seatbelts! Of course, we are at risk every day we take to the road.

Accoring to the National Sleep Foundation a problem of importance may be drowsy driving. According to their sleep in America poll, 28% of Americans have admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel in 2009. If that's not bad enough, more than 50% say they've driven while drowsy. So how can you avoid the problem. There are several key tips try to avoid driving at times when you'd normally be sleeping. If you are on a long drive if possible don't drive alone use the buddy system. Pull over to a safe place and take a nap if you feel sleepy and perhaps most important don't be in a rush to get we are going.

Eat Those Fruits and Vegetables

They are called carotenoids. Carotenoids can be found in most common vegetables-- things like carrots and potatoes and pumpkin as well as some of the dark green vegetables like green beans. According to a new report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, carotenoids can help prolong our lives. Over 15,000 people were studied as researchers measured the amount of carotenoids in the body through a test called the blood alpha carotene test. According to the researchers, the risk of death was lower for people with elevated levels of blood alpha carotene. The greater the alpha carotene level, the lower the risk of dying. Of course, this study does not explain why it happens, however it makes the key point that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is beneficial to your health.

Stomach Pain In Children...take a closer look

It is one of the most common complaints of a child: "My belly hurts." The problem is belly pain could be the result of anything from too much candy to a serious infection. There is another issue as well. Abdominal pain is often a sign in a child that they're not happy with something in their life. Maybe it's school, maybe it's a problem with a teacher, maybe it's a problem with a parent. Children don't really know how to complain about things so what they do is they talk about their belly hurting. The belly hurting could really be an anatomic problem or an illness, but in the cases where it's psychological you have to really evaluate it and try to figure out what's going on. It takes time, but it's worth it. Finally, there's also the judgement of every parent. Is the belly pain simply a complaint, or could it be more?

Breast Cancer Update

I have a question for you? What is the most common form of cancer in women? Well, it’s breast cancer. Approximately 225,000 new breast cancers are diagnosed every year. Almost one in every eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. The risk of getting breast cancer increases with age. Therefore, the risk of an 80-year-old is greater than that of a 60-year-old, and it takes a toll. About 45,000 women will die of breast cancer this year. Any woman can get breast cancer, but there are certain risk factors. The most important is family history. The greatest risk is in women who have a mother, daughter or sister with the disease, especially if they develop breast cancer before menopause, or if both breasts were affected. Families with a history of male breast cancer, or relatives with ovarian cancer are also at increased risk. Breast cancer genes can be detected in about 5% of breast cancer patients

Women and Heart Attack Risk

It’s important news for any woman, especially women who are approaching menopause. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, minor abnormalities in the EKG can predict if a seemingly healthy postmenopausal woman is at risk for heart attack or even death. The new information is all part of a growing amount of information surrounding women and heart disease. There was a time when women were virtually ignored in heart studies. That has changed. The study looked at about 15,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79. All had EKGs done at the start of the study.
For more info check www.mymedicalreports.com

Perhaps a secret to a health Life

Perhaps a secret to a health Life. Take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yetHqWODp0

Sometimes the best medicine is living life to the fullest.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Teens

Sexually transmitted diseases are becoming a growing problem in our teen population. That is the truth. It's a disturbing trend, but it is something that really needs to be looked into and understood. The thing about STDs, as they are called, is that they can be dealt with, in many cases, with antibiotics, but there are a large number of viral STDs. Those viral STDs do not respond to antibiotics and they can cause lifelong problems. Two of the most famous obviously are HIV and also the herpes virus.

Balloon Boy

Fortunately today's episode turned out fine, but it is a classic example of the importance of parents thinking of child safety! A helium balloon within easy access of a child is a recipe for disaster.
Check this link for more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Tb8-PtSNo&feature=related

For more health information check www.mymedicalreports.com

Back Pain and Discs

Back pain affects as many as eight out of 10 people at some point in their lives, but for some, the pain is more than an occasional strain or sprain. It is the result of a herniation or a protrusion of a disk in the back. These disks act like shock absorbers for the backbone and when they protrude, they can irritate nerves and cause severe pain. Now, a report in the journal Nature provides some insight into why some people have disk problems while others do not. A genetic variation associated with susceptibility to lumbar disk disease. A Japanese study has led to the isolation of an altered protein found in the cartilage of effected individuals. A protein is shown to interact with a growth factor previously associated with connective tissue disorders. What this means is growth factor can affect how the disks in the backbone are made, causing some to be more likely to be injured and cause pain.

Irregular Heartbeats

Medications and irregular heartbeats are often found close at hand. First of all, let me tell you there are medications to treat irregular heartbeats that are very effective. If, however, you have certain medications that stimulate an irregular heartbeat, you need to talk to your doctor. You want to make sure that you're not putting yourself under more pressure. Irregular heartbeats are relatively easy to treat when they are documented. They sometimes are treated with medication or even treated with procedures done in a lab.

Teenagers and Weight

You know, one of the things about pediatrics that is important is to realize that teenagers are part of the pediatric process as well. Pediatrics takes care of kids, but children, as they develop, go through various stages and "teen" is a very important stage. One of the issues that many teens are facing right now is weight. Anorexia, at the worst-case scenario, and just preoccupation with weight at the other end. Pediatricians are trained to talk about those issues. To deal with it. It’s important.
Check out www.mymedicalreports.com for more

Latex: A Growing Problem For Those Allergic

Latex allergy is something that was unheard of probably a decade ago and now we hear about it all the time. Essentially, what happens with a latex allergy is that a person literally has a response to the exposure to latex. The thing is, we used to have some latex products, but now there are more and more. Most importantly, gloves, surgical gloves, actually with latex, have powder in them. The latex can adhere to the powder and you can inhale it and that is what leads to the allergic problems. For more information check out www.mymedicalreports.com

The "Wonders" of Pomegranate

The pomegranate is one of the earliest cultivated fruits. Historical evidence suggests that man first began planting pomegranate trees sometime between 4000 B.C.E and 3000 B.C.
I don't know if you have noticed but over the past five years this fruit or the juice it produces has been linked to everything from fighting cancer to preventing heart disease. Go to a cocktail party and you might hear someone saying that a martini can actually be healthy if you add pomegranate. I bring up pomegranate because it is the so called fruit dujour. As is the case with many of these so called remedies for our ills the truth lies in some basic facts that have been dramatically enhanced and largely taken as truth without sufficient support from studies. Pomegranate has some potential health benefits. We know that antioxidant properties can help the heart and deal with inflammation, but if your true goal is better health I think we all would agree reaching for a glass of water beats a martini every time. But, don't be surprised if we start to see a number of new studies focusing on pomegranate.

Financial Stress and The Physical Toll

When you are in practice for many years one of things that happens is that you begin to learn things that are not written in textbooks. This is probably the case in many professions and I am certain many of you could provide me with examples in your field. But because I am in family medicine and deal with different people every day, I have found that my patients often tell me either directly or indirectly things I need to know. For example, although an acute injury can be painful, frightening and even life threatening, a chronic injury can take a more severe toll because of the day to day grind. Think of conditions like arthritis, migraine headaches or emphysema. This is why I am concerned about those who are out of work or just barely making it in this economy. Chronic stress can affect the entire body and over time our ability to handle it can worsen. If you find yourself in this position, talk about it and get help if you need it.

On www.mymedicalreports.com there is a specific "exam room" which has dozens of reports on stress. Take a look and listen.

Women and Weight Lifting: Is It Healthy?

It is an interesting question. Is it good for a woman to lift weights as part of an exercise program? There was a time when women were told not to lift weights and you can still hear many women say that they do not want to lift weights for fear that they will become too bulky or build muscle that they will only lose and have it turn to fat. Actually, weight lifting can be a great form of exercise. There are several key advantages. First, when a person builds muscle the muscle actually helps increase the basal metabolic rate or metabolism. In addition, lifting lighter weights with multiple repetitions helps build core strength. The important thing to do is make certain that you know what you are doing so that you do not injure yourself--this applies to anyone lifting weights--and continue to keep aerobics as a part of your workout.
For more information check out http://www.mymedicalreports.com/ for hundreds of reports on women's health and more.