HOW.. WHEN.. AND WHY TO QUIT DRINKING RIGHT NOW !!

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to see your doctor, contact a support group, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal.


If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor's help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.

Stopping alcohol use can:

Prevent or reduce health problems that are made worse by alcohol use, such as liver damage.

Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant.

Reduce related family concerns or relationship problems.

Increase your ability to be productive at work, school, and home.

Reduce legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse of alcohol.

What resources are available to help you cut down on or stop alcohol use on your own?

Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

What resources are available to help you cut down on or stop alcohol use on your own?
You need education and emotional support when you stop drinking, especially if you abuse alcohol or are alcohol-dependent. Some resources that can help you stop drinking include:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Alcoholics Anonymous organizes meetings all over the world to help those who have a desire to stop drinking. The groups are made up of people who have had alcohol use problems, and you may remain anonymous.
Family medicine physicians or other doctors, psychologists, or other health professionals.

Inpatient or outpatient treatment centers or hospitals.

Local or national alcohol treatment hotlines (check your local white and yellow pages).

You can contact these organizations and health professionals by phone or by accessing their Web sites online.

Why should I stop drinking?

Stopping your use of alcohol can improve your general health and quality of life. It can also increase the quality of life of the people you live with and those who care about you. You decrease your chances of developing serious health problems associated with alcohol abuse or dependence. You reduce your chances of injuring yourself or others in alcohol-related accidents. You might also improve relationships with your parents, children, and spouse or other close loved ones. Not drinking also is a good way for you to model responsible behavior for younger people, particularly children and teens.

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to contact a support group, see your doctor, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal.

If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor's help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.

How to stop alcohol use
Follow these steps to stop drinking alcohol.

Identify your reasons. Make a list of the reasons you want to stop drinking alcohol. You might want to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make the list complete. Keep this list so that you can renew your commitment from time to time.

Make a plan. Set a date to stop drinking. Complete a plan to stop drinking alcohol. Post it in a place where you can see it often, such as on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might want to put it in more than one place. You also might want to put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet. See an example of a plan to stop drinking alcohol.

Share your plan with others. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful.

Evaluate your progress. In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Try a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time.

Continue your new behaviors. After trying this plan for 30 days, try it for another 30 days. Like anything else in life, it is not easy to change behavior, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice new behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become habits. If you try this plan but are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol.

Other things you can do
The following are other ideas that can help in your plan to stop using alcohol:
Avoid stumbling blocks. Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your current life revolves around alcohol use. To stay focused on your goal and succeed, see ideas to help you stop using alcohol on your own.

Attend a self-help group. Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not fit your needs.

Reward yourself. Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.

BERNIE MAC LAST WORDS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PNEUMONIA

Bernie Mac’s wife and daughter were with Berine Mac when he passed,acouding to Bernies sister-in-law.

Bernie Mac died from complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday Mary Ann Grossett says that the night before Mac died, "He struggled for his life. He couldn't breathe.

"He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired."


Prior to that, the couple had last communicated on July 31. "He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out," says Grossett.


Lung Disease Contributed
The sister-in-law says Mac's inflammatory lung disease contributed to his death. "He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission," she says. "But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection ... He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that's where the pneumonia came from."

She reveals that Mac having trouble breathing and running a fever was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator. Bernie Mac was admitted to a hospital at Northwestern Memorial hospital with pneumonia , he was expected to recover, despite widespread rumors about the seriousness of his condition.

Bernie Mac was critically ill when he was in the hospital, he was in intensive care the whole time.

What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can make you very sick. You may cough, run a fever, and have a hard time breathing. For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in 2 to 3 weeks. But older adults, babies, and people with other diseases can become very ill. They may need to be in the hospital.

You can get pneumonia in your daily life, such as at school or work. This is called community-based pneumonia. You can also get it when you are in a hospital or nursing home. This is called hospital-based pneumonia. It may be more severe because you already are ill. This topic focuses on pneumonia you get in your daily life.

What causes pneumonia?
Germs called bacteria or viruses usually cause pneumonia.

Pneumonia usually starts when you breathe the germs into your lungs. You may be more likely to get the disease after having a cold or the flu. These illnesses make it hard for your lungs to fight infection, so it is easier to get pneumonia. Having a long-term, or chronic, disease like asthma, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes also makes you more likely to get pneumonia.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria usually come on quickly. They may include:

Cough. You will likely cough up mucus (sputum) from your lungs. Mucus may be rusty or green or tinged with blood.

Fever.

Fast breathing and feeling short of breath.

Shaking and "teeth-chattering" chills. You may have this only one time or many times.

Chest pain that often feels worse when you cough or breathe in.
Fast heartbeat.

Feeling very tired or feeling very weak.

Nausea and vomiting.

Diarrhea.

When you have mild symptoms, your doctor may call this "walking pneumonia."

Older adults may have different, fewer, or milder symptoms. They may not have a fever. Or they may have a cough but not bring up mucus. The main sign of pneumonia in older adults may be a change in how well they think. Confusion or delirium is common. Or, if they already have a lung disease, that disease may get worse.
Symptoms caused by viruses are the same as those caused by bacteria. But they may come on slowly and often are not as obvious or as bad.

How is pneumonia diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and do a physical exam. He or she may order a chest X-ray and a blood test. This is usually enough for your doctor to know if you have pneumonia. You may need more tests if you have bad symptoms, are an older adult, or have other health problems. In general, the sicker you are, the more tests you will have.

Your doctor may also test mucus from your lungs to find out what germ is causing your pneumonia. Finding the exact germ can help your doctor choose the best medicine for you.

How is it treated?
Your doctor will give you medicines called antibiotics. These almost always cure pneumonia caused by bacteria. You need to take all of your antibiotics so you get well. Do not stop taking them because you feel better. Take them exactly as your doctor tells you.

Pneumonia can make you feel very sick. But after you take antibiotics, you should start to feel much better. Call your doctor if you do not start to feel better after 2 to 3 days of antibiotics. Call your doctor right away if you feel worse.

There are things you can do to feel better during your treatment. Get plenty of rest and sleep, and drink lots of liquids. Do not smoke. If your cough keeps you awake at night, talk to your doctor about using cough medicine.

You may need to go to the hospital if you have bad symptoms, a weak immune system, or another serious illness.

Pneumonia caused by a virus usually cannot be treated with antibiotics. Home treatment, such as rest and taking care of your cough, is the only treatment.

How can you prevent pneumonia?If you are older than 65 or you have a heart or lung problem, you may want to get a pneumonia vaccine. It may not keep you from getting pneumonia. But if you do get pneumonia, you probably will not be as sick.

You can also lower your chances of getting pneumonia by staying away from people who have the flu, colds, measles, or chickenpox. You may get pneumonia after you have one of these illnesses.

PLUMPY'NUT SAVES LIVES BUT WHAT IS IT?

Every year, 5 million children die worldwide from malnutrition. That's one child every six seconds. Now, the relief group Doctors Without Borders says it has something that can save millions of these children. It's called "Plumpy'nut" a ready to eat and cheap to produce food that might be the most important advance ever in the fight against malnutrition. Anderson Cooper saw the benefits of plumpy'nut firsthand in the African nation of Niger.

Plumpy'nut is made of peanut butter, powdered milk and powdered sugar, enriched with vitamins and minerals. It doesn't need to be refrigerated, mixed with water or cooked.

Plumpy'nut was developed in the late 1990's by Andre Briend, a French specialist in pediatric nutrition.

Plumpy'nut, which comes in a silvery foil package the size of two grasping baby-size hands, is 500 calories of fortified peanut butter, a beige paste about as thick as mashed potatoes and stuffed with milk, vitamins and minerals.

Since the packets came into the hands of relief organizations during the Darfur crisis in Sudan, they have been revolutionizing emergency care for severely malnourished children who are old enough to take solid food by taking care out of crowded field hospitals and straight into mothers' homes.

The prescription given mothers here is simple: Give one baby two packets of Plumpy'nut each day. Watch him wolf them down. Wait for him to grow. Which he will, almost immediately: By eating Plumpy'nut, badly malnourished babies can each week gain one to two pounds, or roughly 454 grams to 907 grams

DIABETES DURING PREGNANCY ARE YOU AND YOUR BABY SAFE ?

Gestational diabetes occurs in women during pregnancy, and it requires careful attention to keep mother and baby safe and healthy.


When you're pregnant, your body produces hormones that impair the work of insulin. So the pregnant woman produces extra insulin, but in some women this isn't enough. They get gestational diabetes, which tends to go away when pregnancy ends.


The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these guidelines if you're prone to gestational diabetes:

1.Work with a dietitian to develop a meal plan that accommodates both you and baby.


2.Eat sufficient fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Generally, exercise for at least 30 minutes each day is recommended. Talk with your doctor about how much and what kind of exercise is appropriate for you.


3.Take your diabetes medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

4.Avoid eating sweets, eat frequent small meals throughout the day, and watch your carbohydrate intake.

5.Check your blood sugar frequently as recommended by your doctor, and record your results so you can monitor them.

AMAZING NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT CIRCUMCISION CAN MINIMIZE YOUR AIDS RISK

Circumcision appears to offer men even greater protection against the AIDS virus than thought and also partially shield them against a common sexually-transmitted disease, two studies presented at the world AIDS conference said Thursday.


University of Illinois put forward long-term data from a trial in Kisumu, Kenya, that in its initial phase enrolled 2,784 uncircumcised uninfected men.

Half of the group were circumcised, and the others were circumcised at a later date and they were later tested for HIV.

Previously-published research from this trial found that, after two years, circumcised men were 59-percent less likely to contract the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than uncircumcised counterparts.

The benefit was so astonishing that at this 24-month mark, the uncircumcised men were offered circumision, as it would have been unethical not to have done so.


And he also reported that at the 42-month mark, circumcision offered a protectiveness of 65 percent.


Circumcision has emerged as one of the few bright areas of progress in the AIDS crisis, after the Orange Farm and Kisumu trials.

The discovery has sparked talk in some circles of a "surgical vaccine" a cheap, safe method for shielding men from HIV.

But this enthusiasm has also been tempered by worries that circumcision may face a backlash on cultural, religious or sexual grounds, or may prompt men to abandon use of the condom.


The theory behind the effectiveness of circumcision is that the inner foreskin is an easy entry point for HIV. It is rich in so-called Langerhans cells, tissue that the AIDS virus finds particularly easy to latch onto and penetrate.

Other questions surrounding a circumcision campaign are the need to ensure that operations are done hygienically and with the full knowledge and consent of the male. Also unclear is what benefit, or otherwise, male circumcision has on women.

E. COLI IN YOUR BEEF THE LATEST FOOD NIGHTMARE

S&S Foods voluntarily recalled frozen ground beef Thursday that has been linked to 27confirmed cases of E. coli at a Boy Scout camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains.


S&S Foods of Azusa, Calif., said it is recalling 153,630 pounds of beef that may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.

That strain has been linked by the Virginia Department of Health to the E. coli outbreak at the Goshen Scout Reservation, a popular summer destination for Washington-area Scouts for four decades.

Seventy scouts and staff have reported intestinal symptoms consistent with E. coli contamination. One camper remains hospitalized.

As a precaution, the camp has been closed.

Testing by Virginia public health officials confirmed the beef was linked to the outbreak.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the Virginia outbreak, which happened in late July, is the only one linked to the beef.

The beef was packaged at S&S's Azusa plant and sold to institutional customers throughout the U.S., Jeff Grohs, vice president of business development for S&S, said in an e-mail.

Grohs said the company is attempting to determine whether the "illnesses in Virginia are connected to our operations or have some other original source or cause."

The USDA's food safety agency rated the recall "Class I," meaning the toxin-producing E. coli strain presents a "health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

The federal food safety agency said its investigation is looking into how the meat was contaminated.

The products subject to recall are: 30-pound boxes of "742798 MFST, 100% GROUND BEEF BULK, 80/20, 1LB. BRICK."

MORE E. COLI RELATED NEWS

A childcare facility in the Borders has closed its doors after two children were confirmed with E.coli O157.

A statement from NHS Borders said two cases of the infection had been reported to its public health department in the last week.

Both children are "doing well" and are at home under the care of their GP.

As a precautionary measure, checks are being carried out on any youngsters and staff who attended the same facility as the children in the last fortnight.

Consultant in Public Health Medicine Dr Alan Mordue asked parents to watch out for any symptoms and, if they see any, to contact their GP or NHS 24.

Voluntarily closed

"All possible sources and modes of spread are being considered," he said.

"The childcare facility has been fully cooperative.

"Their decision to voluntarily close while this issue is fully investigated and to minimise any possibility of the infection spreading has been very helpful."

Symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever to diarrhoea.

The incubation period can range from one to 14 days, but is usually three to four days, and people with E.coli O157 are usually ill for up to two weeks.

DIABETES LINKED TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: WHAT YOUR DOCTOR DOESNT WANT YOU TO KNOW

Can your hometown or should I say your neighborhood determine whether or not you’ll develop type 2 diabetes? Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, those who lived in a exercise and diet friendly area were 17% less likely to be insulin resistant, which is a precursor to diabetes. Published in the journal Epidemiology, the study focused on three U.S. areas: New York City, Baltimore City and County and Forsyth County in North Carolina. Researchers found that neighborhoods with safe, walkable sidewalks; nearby gyms and parks; and markets offering fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy food positively influenced both health behaviors and morbidity rates. The study supports further efforts to design more health-conscious neighborhoods, especially in low-income, urban areas.

MORE DIABETES FACTS

As you age you are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and if type 2 diabetes runs in your family this increases your risk.

Type 2 diabetes can be treated by adapting a healthy balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and increasing your level of physical activity. Diabetes is harder to control if you are overweight and is often associated with obesity and a lack of exercise. With the help of your doctor you need to set a realistic target date to achieve weight loss. Be careful you do not lose weight too drastically as your blood glucose levels will be all over the place so aim to lose no more than 1kg (2lb) each week.

You may also be advised that you need to take medication and there are different kinds of medicines that are used to treat type 2 diabetes. Some medications work by helping your body produce more insulin and others by helping your body make better use of the insulin produced. Some medications work by slowing down the time at which the body absorbs glucose from the intestine and also slows the liver from releasing its own stores of glucose.

Your doctor may feel that you need to take a combination of medications to control your blood glucose levels in order to tame your diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatments
Treatments for type 2 diabetes include the following drugs:

Metformin
Sulphonylureas
Acarbose
Nateglinide and repaglinide
Thiazolidinediones

Diabetes Treatments in Detail

Metformin - This tablet works by reducing the amount of glucose that your liver releases into the bloodstream.

Sulphonylureas - This tablet works by making your body’s cells more sensitive to insulin and increases the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas.

Acarbose - This tablet works by slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates from the stomach, this prevents a high peak in your blood glucose levels after eating a meal.

Nateglinide and repaglinide - These tables are used if other medications do not work in controlling your blood glucose levels. They work by stimulating the release of insulin by the pancreas.

Thiazolidinediones - (Why do pharmicists never come up with easy names?). This tablet is used for people who do not respond to other treatments or are unsuitable for other treatments. They work by making the body’s cells more sensitive to insulin so more glucose is taken up from the blood.

Diabetes Testing
If you have been diagnosed with having type 2 diabetes you should always keep a regular check on your blood glucose levels – this can easily be achieved by doing a simple finger prick blood test.

Please note that before taking any medication you should speak to a qualified doctor first.

BRETT FARVRE'S LATEST..NY JETS SCHEDULE..VIDEO AND MORE

Brett Favre’s journey from retirement and back has finally ended—in New York.

• Week 1: Sun., Sep. 7 at Miami, 1 p.m.
• Week 2: Sun., Sep. 14 vs. N.E., 4:15 p.m.
• Week 3: Mon., Sep. 22 at San Diego, 8:30 p.m.
• Week 4: Sun., Sep. 28 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m.
• Week 5: Bye week
• Week 6: Sun., Oct. 12 vs. Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
• Week 7: Sun., Oct. 19 at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.
• Week 8: Sun., Oct. 26 vs. Kansas City, 1 p.m.
• Week 9: Sun., Nov. 2 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
• Week 10: Sun., Nov. 9 vs. St. Louis, 1 p.m.
• Week 11: Thu., Nov. 13 at N.E., 8 p.m.
• Week 12: Sun., Nov. 23 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
• Week 13: Sun., Nov. 30 vs. Denver, 1 p.m.
• Week 14: Sun., Dec. 7 at S.F., 4:05 p.m.
• Week 15: Sun., Dec. 14 vs. Buffalo, 1 p.m.
• Week 16: Sun., Dec. 21 at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.
• Week 17: Sun., Dec. 28 vs. Miami, 1 p.m.
Last six games: Times subject to change due to flex schedule.
The Green Bay Packers reached an agreement Wednesday night to trade their three-time MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback to the New York Jets, ending an emotionally grinding month of indecision over Favre’s future.

Watch Brett Farve Make History..Get Your NY Jets Game Ticketts Here

The move ends a remarkably ugly split between Green Bay and one of its most beloved players, allows the Packers to move forward with new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and gives Favre a fresh start—although not exactly the one he wanted, as Favre’s first choice was widely believed to be the Minnesota Vikings.

The exact compensation wasn't immediately available, but it is believed to be a fourth-round draft pick that increases in value depending on how the Jets perform in the 2008 season.

According to the NFL Network, if Favre takes 50 percent of total snaps with the Jets in 2008, the fourth-rounder becomes a third-round pick. If he gets 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, it becomes a second-round pick; and if he gets 80 percent of snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl, it becomes a first-round pick.




“It is with some sadness that we make this announcement, but also with the desire for certainty that will allow us to move the team and organization forward in the most positive way possible,” Green Bay officials said in a statement.



Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson issued a statement early Thursday.

“I am looking forward to seeing Brett Favre in a New York Jets uniform,” Johnson said. “He represents a significant addition to this franchise, and reflects our commitment to putting the best possible team on the field.”

Green Bay had been talking with the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers since deciding earlier this week that they could no longer coexist with Favre.

Watch Brett Farve Make History..Get Your NY Jets Game Ticketts Here

THE LATEST ON TYSON CHICKENS NEW CONTRACT

TYSON ISLAMIC FOODS, INC., REPLACES AMERICAN HOLIDAY TO APPEASE MUSLIM WORKERS; PRAYER ROOMS ADDED AT PLANT. The leaders of Tyson's Shelbyville, Tenn., chicken plant has just negotiated a new contract it will list Eid al Fitr as a paid holiday for all employees, and Tyson Chicken will now drop Labor Day. Many are boycotting all Tyson chicken and beef products including ITC, Wright Brand, Russer, Jordan's and Iowa Hams brand names.

Workers wanted Islamic religious event recognized WND. Food workers at the Shelbyville, Tenn., plant for Tyson Foods,.Workers at the Tyson Foods poultry processing plant in Shelbyville will no longer have a paid day off on Labor Day but will instead be given the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr as a holiday. According to a news release from the Retail, Tyson drops Labor Day holiday for Eid al-Fitr. Well, this one doesn’t really need too much commentary from me. Will you knowingly buy a piece of Tyson chicken again, or any other product they make. I want to hear from you please leave a comment and tell me what you think.

NATIONAL UNDERWEAR DAY FACTS HISTORY AND MORE

Underwear has been around since the 1800's. We've all wear them...well not all but most do. August 8th is National Underwaer Day thanks to Fresh Pair, an online retailer of men's and women's intimate apparel who felt that this glorious item of clothing should be celebrated rather than ignored. They realized that the 13 billion dollar a year industry doesn't get the recognition it should and decided to do something about it. Their motto is, "underwear should no longer be merely the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off, but the most important thing you wear all day."

In 2003 August to be exact Fresh Pair sent twenty male and female models onto the streets of New York wearing only underwear. They collected signatures on their undie-covered behinds in hopes of convincing America to set an Official day aside for celebrating underwear.

Sponsors for the 2006 invasion on Time Square on National Underwear Day included the likes of Puma, 2(x)ist, Cotton Inc, Goddess, Freya and Hugo Boss. Even the Breast Cancer Research Foundation got in on the action.

People around the world celebrate National Underwear Day. There's the Great Outdoor Underwear Festival in Ohio, Panty Parties in San Francisco, Live DJ's at an Underwear Party in Tuba City and personal parties held by individuals in their own homes just to name a few.

This celebration has gotten so much press coverage that Elton John decided to attend. He watched the underwear clad people in the streets via live video feed and gave thumbs up to the booties he thought looked best.

In commemoration of the 6th anniversary of National Underwear Day, five hundred VIPs, celebrities and international tastemakers will join Freshpair indoors at the glamorous venue Espace in New York to celebrate!

This year’s National Underwear Day will take place on Tuesday, August 5th. In commemoration of the 6th anniversary of National Underwear Day, five hundred VIPs, celebrities and international tastemakers will join Freshpair indoors at the glamorous venue Espace in New York to celebrate! Actress and fashion maven Lydia Hearst will be the host of the 6th Annual National Underwear Day. Model Tyson Beckford will also be making a special appearance.

Ortho Evra Patch Recall:FDA Links It To Death

Recently the FDA disclosed that the excessive levels of estrogen delivered by the birth control patch Ortho Evra can cause serious injuries and even death to the women who use it. Johnson and Johnson is the parent company of the manufacturer of the Ortho Evra patch.

Especially worrisome is the finding that most of about a dozen users who died of clot-related complications in 2004 were young — in their late teens and early 20s.

The AP reported that patch users die and suffer blood clots at a three-times-higher rate than women taking the pill.
The kinds of injuries that can occur include:

Blood Clots
Pulmonary Embolism
Heart Attacks
Stroke
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Death


According to the FDA, women who use the patch are exposed to 60 percent more estrogen than those who use the pill.

Lower levels of estrogen when combined with smoking has long been linked to blood clotting issues. Now we find out that women exposed to the levels of estrogen found in Ortho Evra are even more at risk even if they do not smoke.

If you or someone you know has been injured by the use of the Ortho Evra patch, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

The Highest Antioxidant Fruit Ever: See Our Healthy Food Shopping Lists

Which fruit is the by far the best when it comes to antioxidants? Hint: It’s smaller than a grape and darker than a blueberry.

It’s the acai (pronounced "ah-sigh-EE") berry, and it may beat every other fruit or vegetable by a mile. Case in point: The freeze-dried berry has 30 times the disease-arresting anthocyanins of red grapes.

Cholesterol, Cancer, and . . .
The berries are so nutritious, writes John La Puma, MD, author of ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine, that they may help lower bad cholesterol, inhibit inflammation, and fight off arthritis. They may even have cancer-fighting powers. In a lab study, acai berry extract killed between 45 and 86 percent of a sample of human leukemia cells.

Drink Up
The antioxidant quotient is reason enough to eat this fruit, but acai berries are also chock-full of B vitamins, magnesium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and sulfur. In South America, acai berries are pureed and served warm as a sauce or soup. Check your local health-food store for acai juice, smoothies, and other products containing this berry nutritious fruit.

Use this list as a starter to help restock your kitchen with good-for-you foods.

Grains
Make sure any whole-wheat products you buy are labeled 100% whole wheat.

Brown rice
Steel-cut oatmeal
Whole-grain or oat breakfast cereal (Cheerios, Kashi cereals, Grape Nuts)
Whole-grain pizza dough/crust
Whole-wheat or whole-grain bread
Whole-wheat pasta
Whole-wheat pitas or tortillas

Canned/Jarred Items
Black beans
Olives
Sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil)
Tomato sauce (no added sugars)
Tomatoes: whole, crushed, or diced
Unsweetened fruit
Vegetable or chicken stock/broth (low-salt)
White beans

Dried Fruits and Nuts
Nuts should be raw, rather than roasted or salted.

Almonds
Dried cranberries and apricots
Pistachios, chopped
Raisins
Walnuts and hazelnuts

Condiments and Spices
Balsamic vinegar
Canola oil, regular and spray-on
Chocolate, dark (not milk) with at least 70% cocoa
Cinnamon and nutmeg
Extra-virgin olive oil
Honey
Low-sodium soy sauce
Mustard
Real maple syrup
Red pepper flakes
Turmeric or curry powder
Wine vinegar

Refrigerated Items
Eggs
Feta cheese, low-fat
Milk, skim or low-fat soy
Orange or grapefruit juice (100%) with pulp
Part-skim mozzarella cheese
Yogurt with active cultures (probiotic), low-fat
Sour cream, low-fat

Poultry/Fish
Chicken breast halves, skinless and boneless
Chicken thighs, skinless
Deli meat, sliced and skinless (not processed cold cuts)
Salmon fillets, skinless
Whole fish or fillets: trout, tilapia, snapper, or sea bass

Frozen Food
Blueberries and raspberries, frozen and unsweetened
Fruit sorbet
Vanilla frozen yogurt, nonfat or low-fat

Health Foods
Chia seed
Flaxseed
Soy protein powder

Fruits and Vegetables
Stock up on plenty of fresh fruits and veggies from each color group, but don’t buy more than you’ll be able to eat in a week. Fruits and vegetables lose their nutrient goodness when they sit around.

Blue/Purple:
Blueberries, blackberries, plums, eggplant

Orange/Yellow:
Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, mangoes, pineapple

Red:
Tomatoes, cherries, cranberries, red peppers, red apples

Yellow/Green:
Avocados, broccoli, spinach, kiwifruit, lemons, limes

White/Green:
Garlic, onions, bananas, mushrooms

HEART DISEASE: THE LEADING KILLER OF WOMEN

When we stop to think of a a heart attack victim most think of a 40 plus year old male man. Heart Attacks Are Not Just a Man's DiseaseThe facts, however, tell quite a different story. Heart disease is more than just a man's disease -- much more. Better than 1 in 5 women have some form of heart or blood disease. By the time a woman reaches 65, she has a 1 in 3 chance of developing cardiovascular disease. And a number of studies show that African-American women are at even greater risk than these averages.

Heart disease, in its various forms, is the leading killer of American women. The following statistics paint a graphic picture:

The reason that so much more attention has been focused on men is that they are much more likely to be stricken with heart disease in their prime middle years, whereas women tend to get it 10 to 20 years later. For most women, it is only after menopause that heart disease becomes a problem. But a woman of 60 is about as likely to get heart disease as a man of 50, and by the time they are in their 70s, men and women get heart disease at equal rates. In the past two decades, death rates from cardiovascular disease have declined in both men and women, but have gone down more slowly in women.


Cardiovascular Disease: The Fate of Every Third Woman
The facts, however, tell quite a different story. Heart disease is more than just a man's disease -- much more. Better than 1 in 5 women have some form of heart or blood disease. By the time a woman reaches 65, she has a 1 in 3 chance of developing cardiovascular disease. And a number of studies show that African-American women are at even greater risk than these averages.

Heart disease, in its various forms, is the leading killer of American women. The following statistics paint a graphic picture:

One-third of all deaths of American women each year are attributable to heart disease. Heart disease kills more women each year than all types of cancer, accidents, and diabetes combined.

All forms of cardiovascular disease kill more than 500,000 American women a year (compared to about 450,000 men). Stroke alone kills more than 97,000 women annually.

Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, kills 244,000 women a year.

Forty percent of women with heart disease will eventually die of it.

About 6.3 million American women alive today have a history of heart attack, angina (chest pain), or both. The reason that so much more attention has been focused on men is that they are much more likely to be stricken with heart disease in their prime middle years, whereas women tend to get it 10 to 20 years later. For most women, it is only after menopause that heart disease becomes a problem. But a woman of 60 is about as likely to get heart disease as a man of 50, and by the time they are in their 70s, men and women get heart disease at equal rates. In the past two decades, death rates from cardiovascular disease have declined in both men and women, but have gone down more slowly in women.

The significance of these facts is clear when you consider the aging of the American population. Currently, 38 percent of American women are 45 years of age or older and nearly 50 million have reached or passed 50 years of age. By 2015, that percentage will rise to 45 percent. This means that heart disease in women will be an even bigger problem in the future than it is now.

In the past, care of women with heart disease was based primarily on what was known about men. Given the many factors unique to a woman's health, it became apparent that this approach was not satisfactory. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment cannot adequately take account of these factors until they have been systematically studied and evaluated.

Women have paid a heavy price for medicine's excessive focus on male heart patients, suffering delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and a toll that could be counted in disabilities and death. One study found that an increased death rate in women following heart attacks was associated with less use of certain treatments, such as clot-busting drugs, compared to men.

Finally, however, this situation is changing. Greater attention to women's health in general and a growing awareness of the risks of heart disease in women are replacing the disregard of the past. An increasing number of scientific studies are focusing on how heart disease affects women. Gradually, doctors are becoming better informed about the dangers to women from heart disease, so that they are less likely to attribute chest pain to anxiety or other non-heart-related problems. And women themselves are learning that their own attention to their health must not be limited to an annual visit to the gynecologist.

So why is this important? If nothing could be done about heart disease, all of this attention might be academic. However, heart disease is both preventable and treatable; and as doctors learn more about what causes the problem, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there is much that you can do to prevent it from ever occurring. Diet and lifestyle changes can be very effective preventive efforts for some forms of heart disease. To work best, these efforts should begin early in life, long before you perceive yourself to be at risk. And if heart disease does strike, modern science and technology have an ever-growing arsenal of weapons available to successfully fight it and restore its survivors to healthy and productive lives.

Statistics reflect an encouraging trend. Better understanding of preventive measures and increasing sophistication in diagnosis and treatment have resulted in decreasing rates of heart disease in both men and women. For example, from 1987 to 1997, the death rate from coronary heart disease in women declined 23.5 percent, while the death rate from all forms of cardiovascular disease among women went down 17.5 percent