The FAST Way to Search for Signs of Stroke

by Dr. Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert

What is the best way to detect stroke symptoms? Act “FAST.”

The “FAST” way to remember the warning signs of stroke is an acronym method based around the four letters in that word. It is shown below. The statements in quotes are what to ask the person who may be having a stroke:

F is for FACE: “Smile”. If one side of the face droops: may be stroke.
A is for ARM: “Raise both arms”. If one arm drifts downward: may be stroke.
S is for SPEECH: “Repeat the following sentence” (have the person repeat a simple sentence). If the speech is slurred or strange: may be stroke.
T is for TIME: If any of the above signs are present, don’t waste any time; immediately call 911 or take the person to the nearest stroke center or hospital.

(Source: “Stroke Awareness,” article from National Stroke Association, www.stroke.org)

For Life Alert members with stroke symptoms, there is another way to get the time-critical assistance that is needed: press the button on the Life Alert medical alert pendant. This will summon immediate help, 24/7. Using Life Alert is best if a phone cannot be reached or if driving the person to a hospital or stroke center is not possible. If a stroke victim is alone, Life Alert’s medical alert system may in fact be the only way to get help.

STAYING YOUNG INTO OLD AGE

by Dr. Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert

This title may sound like a contradiction, but the happy surprise is that it isn’t. You can indeed get older (as measured by your chronological age – number of years on Earth) yet still remain young (as measured by your biological and mental age).

Being “young” is a two-part state: mental and physical. If you keep a youthful outlook and attitude (mental youth), while maintaining a healthy body (physical youth -- eating right and exercising to maintain or improve your internal biological processes), then you can actually stay in a state that most would consider young. Some people have even made their bodies younger by changing habits and attitudes that were, well, old and obsolete for them. After all, if folk-rock-poet-icon Bob Dylan can sing “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now,” who am I to argue?

Perhaps some of you readers are still not convinced. Okay, here are some tests to try.

Ask someone how old you look and/or act. If the answer is less than your actual number of years on this planet, this is evidence for your success at maintaining youth. The more people you ask, the more evidence you can accumulate.

Now, look inward at your mental state. Try to be honest. Do you still get excited about the little things in life? Are you hopeful about the future? Do you do impetuous things at times? Do you think of yourself as young (your mental portrait of yourself)? If you have some yes answers here, then you have evidence for mental youthfulness as well.

Let’s be clear. I am not saying that getting older (i.e., accumulating more years on this planet) is a bad thing, or that we should act in ways that perhaps were dumb and we wound up regretting back during younger years. With advancing age comes wisdom (hopefully). As more birthday milestones pass, you will know more and more facts and rules and other useful knowledge that makes things work and makes your life work. You will also know more about what doesn’t work - a big timesaver. All these points, plus lower auto insurance rates, are among the many benefits of getting on in years.

But the main point here is that, while we all must get older in terms of years (we have no control over that, as long as we’re alive), the state of “being old” (i.e., mental-attitude aging) is a choice. Plus, with proper physical care and the increasingly rapid pace of medical breakthroughs, biological aging may soon be a choice as well! In short, it has never been a more exciting time to rack up your chronological mileage.

Finally, a four word finale for folks who find they simply can't stand reaching each new birthday, each new New Year, each new decade milestone: think of the alternative!

You’re welcome. Now shut up and be happy. (If you just laughed, you’re still young.)

One afterthought. Some futurists have predicted that in the near future, perhaps a decade or two from now, our knowledge of bodily aging will increase so much we’ll be on the verge of “curing” it -- that is, stopping or even reversing the processes that cause our bodies to decay, die or decrease in function. While this prospect is exciting, one fact of life can still cause major problems or death, even if dying by old age is cured: accidents.

Fortunately, people can protect themselves against accidents and other emergencies. One way is to buy health insurance and other kinds of insurance to make sure an accident doesn’t wipe us out financially. Another equally important strategy, to insure against bodily harm due to emergencies, is to sign up for a medical alert system with Life Alert. Danger doesn’t discriminate; it can happen to anyone, regardless of (chronological) age. Since we all may be living well into the 100+ range during the next few decades, perhaps even 200+ years, there is a lot of living to lose by letting an emergency happen to us without proper protection. Think of a medical alert system with Life Alert as an extra bit of insurance, to make sure you get all the speedy care and attention you might ever need.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #10

Rule 10. Give yourself credit.

Not in the literal sense, but rather, take a moment to savor how good it feels each time you pay off another credit card. Congratulate yourself for a job well done. Then, after a bountiful bout of back-patting, get right back to paying off the rest of your cards. Before you know it, you’ll be debt free, or close to it. And you will feel… in-credit-able!

All these credit card tips were brought to you by Life Alert.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #9

Rule 9. If your credit card company’s interest rate (APR) is too high, ask for a lower rate.

Another example of “If you ask, ye shall receive.” It cannot hurt to ask for a lower rate, which will mean less interest being charged to your account, which means you will be able to pay off that card faster. If you make payments on time, month after month, you become more reliable in the credit card company’s eyes, and hence it’s more likely you’ll be eligible for a lower APR. Many credit card companies automatically offer you a lower rate when you qualify, but if that call doesn’t come, take the initiative and ask for a lower rate yourself. If the first customer rep you ask says no, remember to ask for a supervisor!

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #8

Rule 8. If you pay late and get a late fee, ask customer service for a courtesy fee waiver.

If you ask, ye shall receive. Most know this saying, yet many don’t apply it in the real world. It does work, in the majority of cases. Most card companies are willing to help you. They can often credit back a late fee (especially if you have not been late before, or if it’s been a long time since you were late), or they can reduce the late fee (e.g., cut it in half). The longer you have been with your credit card company, the more leverage you have in asking for some relief. Also, if a late payment was not your fault (e.g., lost mail, a late statement, website issues, etc.), tell the supervisor this; it is easier for the supervisor to justify a waiver or reduction if something outside your control caused you to be late.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #7

by Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert

Rule 7. If you are not having success with a customer service rep, ask for a supervisor.

Seven of the most useful words in the English language are: “May I talk to a supervisor, please?” If a regular customer rep can’t accommodate you, a supervisor often can. This applies to asking for a credit card fee waiver or any other issue related to that company.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #6

Rule 6. Consider cultivating a cash-only credo (cutting out credit).

The only way to reduce your credit card balances is to pay them off faster than you spend on them. Stopping spending on credit cards is the quickest path to a debt-free state. If you cut credit card usage to zero (or use them only for emergencies), you will not only reduce your outstanding credit card debt faster, but you can plan better and calculate when those balances will go to zero. Steady reduction in your balances month after month also looks good to credit reporting agencies. If you insist on using the cards, consider an alternate strategy: paying off whatever you spend each month plus the minimum payment due.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #5

by Don Rose, Writer for Life Alert

Rule 5. Reduce credit card balances, but don’t get rid of zero-balance cards.

It is good to get your card balances down to zero as fast as possible, but resist the urge to get rid of cards once they have no balance. In addition to being a good backup or safety hedge in case of emergencies, your credit score is helped by having cards with small or zero balances. This is because FICO scores take into account the ratio of your total outstanding credit balance (across all cards) to the total amount of all your cards’ credit limits. The smaller this ratio, the better your score. The more zero-balance cards you have, the lower this ratio will be, which is desirable. Having zero-balance cards also shows you can manage credit, unlike folks who have most or all of their cards maxed out.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #4

by Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert

Rule 4. Pay more than the minimum payment each month.

There are at least two good reasons for doing this. First, you will pay down the debt faster the more you pay each month, meaning you will ultimately pay less in total interest. Second, it looks better to the credit card company (and the credit reporting agencies) if you pay more than the minimum. Paying just the minimum sends the signal that you are barely scraping by, and hence not as good a credit risk, which can in some cases result in the card company raising your annual interest rate or lowering your credit limit (or both).

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #3

by Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert

Rule 3. Pay bills on time to avoid fees, credit report damage, and other penalties.

Typical late fees range from $29 to $39, and if you are over 30 days late many credit card companies will report you to one or more of the big three credit reporting agencies. Another negative of being late: the credit card company can impose other restrictions, like raising your annual APR (interest rate) as a penalty for lateness. Strive to pay your minimum payment (preferably more) at least a week before the due date; this will cause less stress, thanks to the one week time cushion for your payment to reach its destination.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #2

by Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert


Rule 2. Pay down high-interest credit card balances first.

In other words, address what is causing the biggest dent in your wallet first. Then, once that card balance is zero, pay down the card with the next highest interest rate, and so on. To help you remember this rule, here is another way to look at it (which rhymes): Pay off the cards with low interest rates last, since they do not damage your wallet as fast.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CREDIT CARDS: #1

by Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert

A CREDIBLE CREDIT CREDO TO LIVE BY

During the process of creating “credit card commandments” (see the next few posts to come), I came up with a credit credo: “Once you get it, don’t regret it.”

This motto actually has multiple meanings.

First, obtaining credit cards to help pay bills over time is fine, but you need a plan to manage the resulting debt, especially when the degree of credit card usage rises during tough times. Learn the most important rules for handling credit cards, and you won’t regret getting those cards in the first place.

The second meaning is this: once you buy something using a credit card, don’t regret having bought it by paying much more for that item over time. This can occur if you only pay the minimum payment each month. Doing so adds a great deal to the final cost, thanks to accumulating interest charges on the amount you spent.

#1

Let’s assume you have two or more credit cards, you have bought some items with them, and now you have a good deal of debt to deal with. To help you manage this debt, and avoid regretting getting the cards and the creature comforts you charged, consider the following ten tenets of dealing with credit cards. (Extra credit if you already know them.)

1. Pay down credit card balances with your extra cash, rather than investing that cash.

When you pay down the balance of a card that charges 18 percent interest per year, it is like getting a guaranteed 18 percent annual return on the money you used to pay it down. It’s not easy to find investments that guarantee an 18 percent gain, so rule number one almost always applies. The general rule is this: if a credit card interest rate is more than the rate of return of an investment you are considering, pay down that card; if less, invest.

MEDICARE PART D: OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS DEC. 31

Seniors, take note! If you don’t already know, the open enrollment period for Medicare Part D is ending this Wednesday. A CVS ad stated this fact. It also says: “CVS/pharmacy and the National Council on Aging urge you to review your Medicare Part D Plan choices for 2009,” adding that “We accept all Medicare Part D Plans.” Selecting the right plan for you is important (CVS claims that “choosing the right plan can save up to $250,” according to one study they cite), so do your homework and act fast. Tomorrow is only a day away!

by Dr. Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert

HOME INTRUSION PROTECTION: Woman Uses Life Alert System To Inform Police Of Robbery

We at Life Alert often receive news coverage when we save someone's life or help prevent major harm from occurring. Sometimes we come to the aid of someone who is high profile (as in a recent incident where we sent help when ex-NYC Mayor Ed Koch accidentally pressed his Life Alert button).

Of course, in most cases the person is not famous. And we do get many reports involving Life Alert sending help not for a medical emergency, but for home intrusion. Such was the case two days ago, when one of our members used our system to stop an intruder who broke into her home. A West Palm Beach news outlet (WPBF) wrote a story about the incident, entitled “Woman Uses Life Alert System To Inform Police Of Robbery” -- and here is the link to that story: http://www.wpbf.com/news/17319503/detail.html.

Fruit Juice Helps our Hearts; Fights Arterial Plaque Even Better Than Fruit Itself

by Dr. Don Rose

Based on an article by Jon Barron on his Health Blog

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Have a hankering to hear how to help your heart stay healthy? How about some fruit juice! We always knew it tasted great, but now comes new proof it is good for us, too. Of course, for optimum heart health, fruit juice plus fitness activities plus a fine diet will help even more, but the research study discussed below shows that we now have even more reason to drink grape juice and apple juice instead of sodas. In short, this is grape news for everyone, from California to Apple-ate-ya. Okay, enough puns, just read the story below for all the juicy details. --Don Rose

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Introduction

Researchers from Universite Montpellier in France recently discovered that grapes and apples may prevent plaque from coating arterial walls when consumed with fatty, high-cholesterol foods. The researchers also found that apple and grape juices have a more powerful anti-plaque effect than the fruits themselves.

Research Study

The study followed several groups of hamsters -- one fed a normal diet, while the others enjoyed high-fat diets plus either fruit, water, or juice. The amount of fruit consumed by the little rodents was the human equivalent of three apples or bunches of grapes a day; the amount of juice was the equivalent of about four glasses. The hamsters in the purple grape juice group fared the best, with the lowest level of atherosclerosis, followed by those eating purple grapes. The apple-juice and apple-eating hamsters scored third and fourth, respectively. All the fruit- and juice-eating hamsters had lower cholesterol, less oxidative stress, and less fat accumulation in their aortas than the hamsters who consumed no fruit or juice.

The researchers assume that the cardiac benefits of fruit probably derive from phenolic compounds -- powerful antioxidants found in grapes and apples. Although grapes and apples contain the same amount of phenols in fruit form, grape juice has two-and-a-half times the amount that apple juice does. Earlier studies have found significant differences in phenol content from one fruit juice to another, with blueberry juice the leader of the pack, and apple, grape, pomegranate juices containing far more than the ever-popular orange, pineapple, and grapefruit juices.

According to the Universite Montpellier research team, the findings suggest that the amount of phenols contained in a food have a direct effect on its antioxidant properties. The results, they write, "provide encouragement that fruit and fruit juices may have a significant clinical and public health relevance."

Fruit vs. Fruit Juices

But that's only part of the story. A primary reason juices outperform fresh fruits in delivering antioxidants has to do with the way juice concentrates the nutrients. You get more bioactive punch for the mouthful from juice because you don't have to eat all that fiber. Also, the body can utilize the nutrients more readily since it doesn't have to separate nutrients from the fiber, minimizing the amount of energy consumed in digestion and freeing up that energy for healing. Thirdly, not all phenols are the same. Some, like EGCG in green tea, resveratrol in grapes, and curcumin in the spice turmeric, stand out. And then, of course, in addition to phenols, fruit juices contain other antioxidants such as Vitamin C, as well as minerals, living enzymes, and an assortment of phytochemicals.

Fresh Juice vs. Commercial Bottled Juice

Before you decide to implement the good news by washing down your beefsteak and fries with a glass of Welch's, here's something to consider. There's a world of difference between commercial bottled juice and freshly made juice. Within minutes of juicing, many of the nutrients and enzymes start to break down, rendering the benefits far less potent. By the time bottled juice gets to your mouth, particularly if it's been processed, it's a shadow of its original self. Also, while fruit juices provide many benefits, they contain a lot of sugar, so many people recommend emphasizing vegetable juices instead. In fact, a good juicer is probably the single best investment you can make in your health.

Juicing

If you don't already own a juicer, look for a machine that's great at extraction, but also easy to use and clean. Some powerful juicers are so difficult to clean that they may end up going unused. Note that you can spend stratospheric amounts on a juicer such as a Norwalk, or pick a perfectly acceptable L'equip for about $130. The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer is another choice (you may have seen its ubiquitous infomercials on TV).

In terms of extraction, some people like the twin magnetic gear system used in juicers like the Green Star. But the Green Star has a big footprint on the counter and takes a bit of effort to clean -- although it's not as difficult as the Norwalk. Some say it is best for fasts, or when juicing heavily for several days in a row -- just clean it at the end of each day. If you're doing a lot of juicing during any given day, the Green Star is the way to go.

If you're new to juicing, consider the L'equip Mini Model 110.5 pulp ejector juicer. It may not have the best extraction method, but it does a decent job. Also, relative to most high-end juicers, it's quick to use and clean. With this Model, it's not that hard to make a quick glass of fresh squeezed juice -- the main thing many folks want from a juicer.

Closing Thoughts

Juicing is a great way to improve one’s health, but it is not recommended to make your juice and then eat junk food to round out your meals like the hamsters did. Although juice may moderate some of the harmful effects of high-fat, high-glycemic diets, it provides far more benefit when used as part of a healthy diet routine. In fact, there are many advocates of juice fasting because it gives the body a chance to detoxify and rebuild.

Also, while the information above shows that a good way to keep “heart healthy” is to drink more fruit juices, one never knows when one’s heart might malfunction, for any number of reasons. It can happen to anyone, at any age, even if you’ve lowered your risk for heart problems via good diet and exercise. If you sense the onset of a heart attack or irregular rhythms, call 911. If you are not near a phone, cannot get to a phone or cannot punch in the numbers, you can still get immediate help if you are a member of Life Alert; simply press your Life Alert help button to get in touch with live dispatchers within seconds, 24/7. They can send medical assistance to you, which will arrive in a matter of minutes. Life Alert members who are not home can also use a special one-button 911 cell phone (an optional Life Alert feature). If you don’t currently have Life Alert, see below for links to information on this valuable service.

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The article above is covered by a Creative Commons License. The information provided is, to the best of our knowledge, reliable and accurate. However, while Life Alert always strives to provide true, precise and consistent information, we cannot guarantee 100 percent accuracy. Readers are encouraged to review the original article, and use any resource links provided to gather more information before drawing conclusions and making decisions.

Dr. Don Rose writes books, papers and articles on computers, the Internet, AI, science and technology, and issues related to seniors.

For more information about Life Alert and its many services for seniors and younger adults nationwide, please visit the following websites:
http://www.lifealert.com
http://www.seniorprotection.com
http://www.911seniors.com

POSITSCIENCE.COM: FITNESS PROGRAMS TO ATTAIN BRAIN GAIN; THINK FASTER, FOCUS BETTER

Here is a website you should know about, since it appears to be an excellent spot for a mental pitstop, a place to attain brain gain with little pain: www.positscience.com. The PositScience slogan is, "Your brain will thank you." We like it. One program grad quoted on their site says that the PositScience program "expanded [his] brain power" and "sharpened [him] as an individual." High praise, indeed.

The first item featured on the PositScience site's Products list is the Brain Fitness Program Classic (TM), "Posit Science’s original program for the auditory system of the brain," which is now available for both the PC and the Mac OS X operating system. This program "features six computer-based exercises" that are "designed to speed up auditory processing, improve working memory, and encourage the brain to produce more of the chemicals that help it remember."

What results can one expect by using this Brain Fitness Program? The site cites "clinical trials that demonstrate it speeds up auditory processing by 131%, improves memory by an average of 10 years, and more." Sounds quite impressive. More information at http://www.positscience.com/products/brain_fitness_program.

Another product featured on the website is InSight, "Posit Science’s program for the visual system of the brain." More information at http://www.positscience.com/products/cortex.

Programs such as those offered by PositScience are becoming increasingly important for seniors as average lifespans continue to increase every year. The media often touts the crucial role of physical exercise, and while it is certainly important, mental exercise is just as vital for maintaining a healthy life.

Just as mental fitness, via systems like those offered by PositScience, enables seniors to maintain an independent lifestyle well into their advanced years, protection systems like Life Alert also enable independence to be maintained. With a fit body, sharp mind and protection against emergencies, today's seniors can increasingly put off or even eliminate the need to move to retirement homes, and instead choose to keep living with independence in their own homes.

FREE ASTHMA SCREENINGS IN MAY (YOU MAY WANT TO GO!)

Do you have signs of asthma? Have you been told you have it? Then you may want to take advantage of free screenings taking place during the month of May 2008. To read more about the free asthma screenings, click here.

TAKE IT TO HEART: WOMEN SHOULD WORRY ABOUT HEART DISEASE; 1 IN 3 AMERICAN WOMEN DIES OF HEART DISEASE

Women's heart health may not get as much media attention as breast cancer and other diseases, but the truth is that women need to take heart health to heart. The government website Womenshealth.gov (the "Federal Government Source for Women's Health Information") points out several facts related to women and their hearts. For example:

One in three American women dies of heart disease. In 2003, almost twice as many women died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers combined. The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. All women should take steps to prevent heart disease.

Both men and women have heart attacks, but more women who have heart attacks die from them. Treatments can limit heart damage but they must be given as soon as possible after a heart attack starts. Ideally, treatment should start within one hour of the first symptoms.

For more information about women and heart health, gets the FAQs at:
http://womenshealth.gov/faq/heartdis.htm

D is for Defense: Deterring MS and Cancer via Vitamin D

Based on the BromsaMS Wikidot web article “Vitamin D And Multiple Sclerosis” and the Nutrition Journal web article “Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet” by Michael S Donaldson

Edited (with Introduction) by Dr. Don Rose

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Various studies indicate that higher levels of Vitamin D in the body are associated with reduced risk or recurrence of MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and cancer. While more study is needed to establish whether increasing Vitamin D levels with supplements will reduce the risk of disease, it appears that, in general, supplements can provide a very low cost and safe form of “insurance” for your health. In other words, there doesn’t seem to be much downside to taking supplements like Vitamin D, yet a very large potential upside. (Of course, always consult your doctor before taking any supplements.) Read below for more details. --D.R.

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Introduction

Vitamin D is produced primarily from the exposure of the skin to sunshine. Even casual exposure of the face, hands, and arms in the summer generates a large amount of vitamin D. In fact, simulated sunshine, equivalent to standing on a sunny beach until a slight pinkness of the skin was detected, was equivalent to a 20,000 IU oral dose of vitamin D2 [1]. (Note that the RDA is 400 IU for most adults.) It has been estimated that 1,000 IU per day is the minimal amount needed to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D in the absence of sunshine [1], and that up to 4,000 IU per day can be safely used with additional benefit [2].

Vitamin D and MS

Good news about Vitamin D: researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have found that the risk of MS is lowest among people whose Vitamin D levels are high. While other research has suggested this link, the Harvard study is the first to indicate that increasing Vitamin D levels could help prevent MS, a chronic degenerative neurological disease that affects some 350,000 people in the United States and two million worldwide.

Working with researchers from the U.S. Army and Navy, the Harvard team analyzed stored serum samples from more than seven million individuals for levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. They found that the risk of MS among whites whose Vitamin D levels were highest was 62 percent lower than among those whose levels were lowest. No significant associations were found among blacks and Hispanics, perhaps because there were fewer of their serum samples available or because these groups tend to have low Vitamin D levels. More study is needed to establish whether increasing Vitamin D levels with supplements will reduce the risk of MS. The study was published in the December 20, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Vitamin D and Cancer

The concentration of the active hormonal form of vitamin D is tightly regulated in the blood by the kidneys. This active hormonal form of vitamin D has the potent anti-cancer properties. It has been discovered that various types of normal and cancerous tissues, including prostate cells [3], colon tissue [4], breast, ovarian and cervical tissue [5], pancreatic tissue [6] and a lung cancer cell line [7] all have the ability to convert the major circulating form of vitamin D, 25(OH)D, into the active hormonal form, 1,25(OH)2D. So, there is a local mechanism in many tissues of the body for converting the form of vitamin D in the body that is elevated by sunshine exposure into a hormone that has anticancer activity.

Indeed, 25(OH)D has been shown to inhibit growth of colonic epithelial cells [8], primary prostatic epithelial cells [9], and pancreatic cells [6]. So, the laboratory work is confirming what had been seen some time ago in ecological studies of populations and sunshine exposure.

The mortality rates for colon, breast, and ovary cancer in the USA show a marked north-south gradient [10]. In ecological studies of populations and sunlight exposure, sunlight has been found to have a protective effect for prostate cancer [11], ovarian cancer [12], and breast cancer [13]. Recently Grant found that sunlight was also protective for bladder, endometrial, renal cancer, multiple myeloma, and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma in Europe [14] and bladder, esophageal, kidney, lung, pancreatic, rectal, stomach, and corpus uteri cancer in the USA [15]. Several prospective studies of vitamin D and cancer have also shown a protective effect from vitamin D. It could be that sunshine and vitamin D are protective factors for cancers of many organs that can convert 25(OH)D into 1,25(OH)D2.

References

1. Holick MF: Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.Am J Clin Nutr 2004, 79:362-371. [PubMed Abstract]

2. Vieth R, Kimball S, Hu A, Walfish PG: Randomized comparison of the effects of the vitamin D3 adequate intake versus 100 mcg (4000 IU) per day on biochemical responses and the wellbeing of patients.Nutr J 2004, 3:8. [PubMed Abstract][PubMed Central Full Text]

3. Schwartz GG, Whitlatch LW, Chen TC, Lokeshwar BL, Holick MF: Human prostate cells synthesize 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 from 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1998, 7:391-395. [PubMed Abstract]

4. Tangpricha V, Flanagan JN, Whitlatch LW, Tseng CC, Chen TC, Holt PR, Lipkin MS, Holick MF: 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1alpha-hydroxylase in normal and malignant colon tissue.Lancet 2001, 357:1673-1674. [PubMed Abstract]

5. Friedrich M, Rafi L, Mitschele T, Tilgen W, Schmidt W, Reichrath J: Analysis of the vitamin D system in cervical carcinomas, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.Recent Results Cancer Res 2003, 164:239-246. [PubMed Abstract]

6. Schwartz GG, Eads D, Rao A, Cramer SD, Willingham MC, Chen TC, Jamieson DP, Wang L, Burnstein KL, Holick MF, Koumenis C: Pancreatic cancer cells express 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1alpha-hydroxylase and their proliferation is inhibited by the prohormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.Carcinogenesis 2004, 25:1015-1026. [PubMed Abstract] Epub 2004 Jan 1023.

7. Mawer EB, Hayes ME, Heys SE, Davies M, White A, Stewart MF, Smith GN: Constitutive synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by a human small cell lung cancer cell line.J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994, 79:554-560. [PubMed Abstract]

8. Holt PR, Arber N, Halmos B, Forde K, Kissileff H, McGlynn KA, Moss SF, Kurihara N, Fan K, Yang K, Lipkin M: Colonic epithelial cell proliferation decreases with increasing levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2002, 11:113-119. [PubMed Abstract]

9. Barreto AM, Schwartz GG, Woodruff R, Cramer SD: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, the prohormone of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, inhibits the proliferation of primary prostatic epithelial cells.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2000, 9:265-270. [PubMed Abstract]

10. Sunlight, Nutrition And Health Research Center[http://www.sunarc.org]

11. Hanchette CL, Schwartz GG: Geographic patterns of prostate cancer mortality. Evidence for a protective effect of ultraviolet radiation.Cancer 1992, 70:2861-2869. [PubMed Abstract]

12. Lefkowitz ES, Garland CF: Sunlight, vitamin D, and ovarian cancer mortality rates in US women.Int J Epidemiol 1994, 23:1133-1136. [PubMed Abstract]

13. Gorham ED, Garland FC, Garland CF: Sunlight and breast cancer incidence in the USSR.Int J Epidemiol 1990, 19:820-824. [PubMed Abstract]

14. Grant WB: Ecologic studies of solar UV-B radiation and cancer mortality rates.Recent Results Cancer Res 2003, 164:371-377. [PubMed Abstract]

15. Grant WB: An estimate of premature cancer mortality in the U.S. due to inadequate doses of solar ultraviolet-B radiation.Cancer 2002, 94:1867-1875. [PubMed Abstract]

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The BromsaMS Wikidot article cited above is covered by a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The referenced Nutrition Journal article is governed by an Open Access license.

Dr. Don Rose writes books, papers and articles on many topics, including computers, the Internet, artificial intelligence, science and technology, and issues related to seniors.

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Six Ways to Exorcise Exercise Excuses

Press Release -- Courtesy of PRWEB.com

Introduction by Dr. Don Rose

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Life Alert is known nationwide for providing personal protection in case of falls, home intrusion, medical emergencies or other dangerous scenarios, sending help fast in order to prevent injury or even death. But, as Exercise Physiologist and Fitness Consultant Joey Atlas points out, fitness and weight loss excuses can (eventually) kill you as well. One can conclude from Atlas’s views that we need to provide our bodies with a kind of “fitness protection” by exercising regularly and maintaining optimal weight. While fear of fitness and weight loss failure are major contributors to obesity around the world, Atlas provides a message of hope, encouraging the use of simple home workouts that can help fight fat and improve poor fitness levels. –D.R.

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Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (PRWEB) November 7, 2006 — According to official figures from a 2006 report compiled by The Trust for America’s Health, the adult obesity rate rose from 15 percent in 1980 to 32 percent in 2004. Combine that with the number of Americans who are overweight but not obese, and the figure stands at 64 percent. And the childhood obesity rate more than tripled between 1980 and 2004, from 5 percent to 17 percent.

“I don’t have enough time for exercise.” “I’m too out of shape to workout.” “I don’t know what to do.” “I’m too afraid to ask the fitness instructors.” “The gym is too crowded.” “The health club members are rude.” “I don’t have the willpower.” These are some of the top excuses revealed by a 2004 survey conducted by the American Council on Exercise of San Diego.

“For the general population, excuses are just excuses. They are not valid reasons for poor levels of fitness and health. That being said, I can understand why so many people use these excuses. They just don’t know any better,” said Exercise Physiologist and Fitness Consultant Joey Atlas. “There is so much fitness and weight loss information out there. It’s hard for people to make sense out of it and see how or if it applies to them,” according to Atlas.

Atlas offers these six tips to put an end to your fitness excuses:

1) Develop this mindset: Fitness is not a leisure pursuit. It’s an obligation and a means for you to protect the gift of life you have been given.
2) Create a simple home gym with a little bit of space and a floor mat for core exercises.
3) Learn compound leg exercises, such as the touch-down, that do not require fitness equipment.
4) Perform daily flexibility and stretching exercises for increasing energy and injury prevention.
5) Use the floor mat for abdominal exercises and thigh exercises that provide a smart foundation for a more advanced fitness program.
6) Incorporate butt exercises and stomach exercises that do not require weights or exercise machines.

“There is so much that can be done with little or no fitness equipment. There is no need to be a member of a health club to be in great shape and healthy,” says Atlas. “I have some of my best workouts on the local playground. A ten-minute ab workout, a quick leg exercise series, a simple core workout and eight minutes of stretching for flexibility will give you a good sweat in less than thirty minutes.”

Atlas offers five free exercises, with photos and instructions via his main website, www.JoeyAtlas.com.

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Joey Atlas, M.S. - Exercise Physiology, is a fitness consumer advocate, professional trainer and fitness writer. He has been in the fitness industry since the late 80’s. Atlas is a contributing writer for OnFitness Magazine. Joey Atlas Fitness Resources provides fitness consulting services and products to individuals, families and companies all over the world.

Dr. Don Rose writes books, papers and articles on many topics, including computers, the Internet, artificial intelligence, science and technology, and issues related to seniors.