Johns Hopkins is hosting its 17th annual women’s health conference this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Hilton Baltimore, 401 W. Pratt St.

The conference, A Woman’s Journey, usually attracts 1,000 women to hear Hopkins specialists discuss new medical treatments and provide information on diseases and health issues. There are 32 hour-long seminars in all.

Subjects include bone health, aging, heart disease and others.

On hand will be author and patient safety advocate Sorrel King, who plans to talk about a family’s tragic loss and it was used to improve safety. Dr. Peter Pronovost, Hopkins’ well-known patient safety expert and professor of critical care medicine, will introduce her.

Pronovost recently became director of the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. He has developed checklists used in Maryland and around the country to lower the number of central line infections.

The lunch speaker will be Christina Catlett, assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and associate director for Health System Preparedness at The Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response. She’ll talk about devastation in New Orleans and Haiti and other personal experiences.

For more information, go to www.hopkinsmedicine.org/awomansjourney or call 410-955-8660.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

It’s back to school time, and Chris Wood, a physical therapist at Good Samaritan Hospital, has some tips for backpack safety.

“Backpacks – when used correctly – are better than shoulder bags or purses because the back and stomach muscles support the weight which allows for even distribution across the child’s body,” he said in a statement. “If used incorrectly, however, backpacks can cause students to have numbness, tingling and pain.”

Here are the tips, which he says also come recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

+Make sure the backpack is no more than 15 percent of the student’s body weight. If the students has to lean forward to carry the load, it’s too heavy.

+The backpack should be place evenly over the shoulder blades, and not slung over one shoulder.

+Ensure the pack has loose straps because those that are too tight can interfere with circulation and nerves.

+Look for a pack that is made of lightweight fabric such as canvas, and not leather.

+Other good features to look for include multiple compartments and a waist belt for even distribution and a padded back.

Perhaps the nurses at Franklin Square Hospital will pass this information along with the backpacks and school supplies it plans to pass onto 565 students at Hawthorne Elementary School this Thursday. It’s an annual event to provide the packs. The nurses have provided packs to other schools in past years.

Are there others passing out packs for kids?

Patuxent Publishing photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Doctors always say that if you don’t smoke, eat well, exercise regularly and limit alcohol you’ll live longer. Now the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put an actual statistic behind that advice.

A new study shows that those who engage in all four healthy behaviours were 63 percent less likely to die early, compared to those who did none of those things. Not smoking was the most protective, the CDC said.

“If you want to lead a longer life and feel better, you should adopt healthy behaviors– not smoking, getting regular physical activity, eating healthy, and avoiding excessive alcohol use,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, CDC director, said in a statement. The alcohol limited was two drinks a day for men and one for women.

Specifically, those who did all four healthy things were:

+66 percent less likely to die early from cancer,
+65 percent less likely to die early from cardiovascular disease and
+57 percent less likely to die early from other causes.

Researchers looked at data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who were recruited from 1988 to 1994 and followed until 2006. The study, called Low Risk Lifestyle Behaviors and All-Cause Mortality: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III Mortality Study, was published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The study showed only a small percentage of U.S. adults has adopted such a healthy lifestyle. But the CDC pointed out that significant progress has been made on smoking.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Amy Davis

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health, Consumer health, Healthy Living, geriatrics
        

Howard County has the healthiest residents in the state, according to a new ranking.

And Baltimore City has the least healthy residents, who were three times more likely to die prematurely than in Howard, said the ranking by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

It’s the second year the two have prepared a ranking of counties in Maryland and other states.

The researchers looked at the rate of people dying before age 75, the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health, the numbers of days people report being in poor physical and poor mental health, and the rate of low-birthweight infants.

They also looked at health behavior, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment. These include such things are rates of smoking, obesity, drinking, teen births, poverty, the uninsured and primary care providers, as well as levels of education and access to healthy food and clean air.

Similar findings last year weren’t surprising to public health officials, and probably aren’t so shocking to locals either given the wealth or lack of it in the most and least healthy places.

The healthiest counties after Howard were Montgomery, Frederick, Queen Anne’s and Carroll. The least healthy after the city were Allegany, Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico.

“The County Health Rankings help everyone see that much of what influences our health happens outside of the doctor’s office and where we live matters to our health,” says Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “The good news is that there are things counties can do right away to help their residents lead healthier lives. We hope this second annual release of County Health Rankings data will spur all sectors – government, business, community and faith-based groups, education and public health – to work together to find solutions and take action and implement programs and policy changes to improve health.”
See the full report at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

Keep reading to see some highlights between Baltimore City and Howard County.

Continue reading "Howard County healthiest Maryland county" »

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Categories: Healthy Living
        

Want to learn about eating better and the latest exercise trends? There will be a free health expo on tomorrow at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Sponsored by Fox 45/The CW, the B’More Healthy Expo will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and offer: Free health screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations, interactive sports and fitness activities, celebrity speakers and activites for kids.

The University of Maryland Gymkana gymnastics troupe will perform at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

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Categories: Healthy Living
        

Doctors and others in the medical field will have instant access to information about diabetes with the use of a new guide Johns Hopkins Medicine is making available on smart phones.

The guide was written by Hopkins physicians to help providers make the best clinical decisions, particularly when a patient is sitting in one of their examining rooms.

The guide provides advice on issues such as diabetes management and complications to medications.

It offers almost instant, at-a-glance access to the latest consensus guidelines and expert opinions on a broad spectrum of topics in diabetes care," said Rita Rastogi Kalyani, the guide's mangaging editor and an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology.

Nearly 24 million people have diabetes in the United States and 5.7 million people don't know how to manage it, Kalyani said. Complications of the disease can be managed or avoided through proper care, she said.

The diabetes guide is available on smart phones and the web. A print version will be released in the spring.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

In case you missed this, a vendor at Lexington Market called Healthy Choice was fined by the city for allegedly serving up trans fats, according to a story by my colleague Frank Roylance.

I thought it was worth pointing out because it was the first fine since the city's effort to curb use of the artery clogging trans fats in eateries.

About 100 restaurants have been caught using trans fats, but the Health Choice store, at 400 W. Lexington St., was the only one that was caught twice during inspections.

Tell us what you think.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Wonder how the brain creates, or responds to, art? Wonder why and how humans come to perceive beauty?

Some scientists are joining with artists, musicians, educators and historians to explore the topic during a series of lectures on sensory science and the arts Oct. 20 and 21.

The series was developed by the Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute along with the Walters Art Museum, and it will be moderated by National Public Radio arts and science correspondent Jon Hamilton.

“The artifacts of early man suggest that our ancestors were moved by images, forms, sounds and movements, and in a world of subsistence, put effort and resources into their art,” says Dr. John “Jack” Griffin, director of the Brain Science Institute, in a statement. “For centuries, philosophers have speculated on the links between perception, beauty, creativity and pleasure, and in recent years, scientists have learned a great deal about sensory systems.”

He said the relevance in life is the ability, for example, to design classrooms that enhance learning or hospitals that facilitate greater healing.

The cost is $100 for the public, and free for students. For a complete list of lectures and information on registering, go to the Brain Science Institute website.

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Categories: Healthy Living
        

Anti-smoking advocates are crediting an indoor smoking ban and a cigarette tax for bringing down the rate of smoking in Maryland.

The advocates said in a press conference earlier today that there was a 32 percent drop in adult smoking from 1998 to 2009 – more than twice the national average.

They also announced $550,000 in U.S. Food and Drug Administration money to help enforce a ban on selling tobacco to minors. Inspections of retail outlets will begin later this month, they said.

The announcement came from a collection of Maryland health officials, including former city health commissioner Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, who is now the FDA’s principal deputy commissioner, and John M. Colmers, the secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

 “We've made significant progress in the battle against smoking and tobacco-related disease because our public and private partners are working hard to help adults quit smoking and keep children from starting,” Colmers said in a statement. “While we've done more with less in tough economic times to reduce tobacco use, we remain committed to doing more. The health and future life expectancy of Maryland's children and adults are at stake.”

At the heart of the drop in smoking, Colmers and others said was the 2007 smoking ban,  a controversial move that prohibits smoking in all public indoor places including bars, restaurants and workplaces, and the one-dollar a pack increase in the tobacco tax. They also cited the Maryland Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which has received calls from 50,000 people seeking help quitting.

Here are the stats they cited (from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System):

Maryland tobacco use average dropped to 15.1 percent in 2009 from 22.4 percent in 1998, or 32.6 percent. Nationally, the drop went to 20.6 percent from 24.1 percent in the same time frame, or 14.5 percent.

So, have you quit? Any of the reasons cited by authorities a factor?

Baltimore Sun file photo/Lloyd Fox

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

The annual cost of injuries and productivity losses from crashes involving cars, motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians is now pushing $100 billion, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That amounts to nearly $500 for each U.S. licensed driver in one year, according to the study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention.

The breakdown is about $70 billion for car crashes, $12 billion for motorcycles, $10 billion for pedestrians and $5 billion for bicyclists. (Data is from 2005, the most current at study time.)

“Every 10 seconds, someone in the United States is treated in an emergency department for crash-related injuries, and nearly 40,000 people die from these injuries each year,” said Dr. Grant Baldwin, director of CDC's Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, in a statement. “This study highlights the magnitude of the problem of crash-related injuries from a cost perspective, and the numbers are staggering.”

The study also found that fatalities cost $58 billion, hospitalizations cost $28 billion and trips to the emergency room cost $14 billion; 70 percent of those killed and 52 percent of those hurt were men;  teens and young adults made up 28 percent of injuries but only 14 percent of the population; and motorcyclists accounted for 6 percent of deaths and injuries and 12 percent of the costs.

The CC said the deaths and injuries are preventable with such programs as graduated driver licensing policies that require teens to gain experience over time; child safety seat distribution; primary seat belt laws and enhanced enforcement; motorcycle and bike helmet laws; and sobriety checkpoints.

More information on laws and other data can be found here and informationon the CDC's efforts on motor vehicle safety is here.

So, do you buckle up?

Baltimore Sun file photo/Brendan Cavanaugh

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

When you quit smoking, did you try not to think about cigarettes?

A new study shows that the technique may help people quit the habit – and others – but when they stopped suppressing the thoughts the habit came back with a vengeance.

This is called behavior rebound, according to researchers who published their study in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The research was done at St. George's, University of London and the University of Hertfordshire.

They saw it in smokers, and in a previous study, they saw it in chocolate eaters.

“These findings have obvious implications for individuals seeking to give up certain behaviors, for example, smoking, overeating, drinking, sex and other excessive behaviors,” said James Erskine, a psychologist at St. George’s, and a co-author of the study, in a statement.

“If trying to avoid thoughts of something in an attempt to give it up actually unwittingly triggers a subsequent increase, it's a poor method of achieving self control. This work may stop people using quitting techniques that are ultimately harmful.”

For the latest study, they observed 85 smokers who smoked at least 10 cigarettes a day. In three groups, one was told to change no behavior, one was told to suppress their thoughts and one was told to actively express thoughts. The suppression group cut back to five cigarettes a day. But the next week, they were told to stop suppressing their thoughts, and their smoked nearly three more than the other groups.

So, now that we know what NOT to do, any suggestions?

And while we're talking about quitting smoking, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention just released a study saying that kids are more likely to start smoking if they see it in the movies.

The CDC looked at smoking in top movies from 1991-2009 and found scenes with actors lighting up have been on the decline since 2005. And that could help keep kids from starting to smoke, but more needs to be done. Giving all movies with smoking an R rating was one suggestion. 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Proper dental care does make for a nice smile, but it also can prevent all kinds of other things from going wrong in people of all ages.

Many people don't seem to know how oral health works, so Tufts University School of Dental Medicine has put out this list of myths in the July/August issue of Nutrition Today:  

Myth 1: The consequences of poor oral health and nutrition are restricted to one's own mouth

The Tufts people said when pregnant women eat poorly, it can impact their kids teeth later in life. They are more likely to have tooth decay. Deficiencies in calcuim, vitamin D and A and calories can mean oral defects. Lack of B6 and B12 could mean a cleft palate. Further, if a kid's mouth hurts because he has tooth decay, he probably will be distracted and won't learn well. He will also probably choose food that are easier to chew and less nutritious.

Myth 2: More sugar means more tooth decay

Problems stem from the amount of time sugar sit on the teeth, rather than the amount of sugar consumed. Bad are slowly dissolving candy and soda. The acids from the sugars form bacteria. The Tufts research showed that teens get about 40 percent of their carbs from soft drinks. It seems like they'd be better off with sugar-free ones, but they, along with acidic drinks like lemonade can cause demineralization of teeth.

Myth 3: Losing baby teeth to tooth decay is OK

It's not. The decay can cause damage to the teeth developing below. And if the baby teeth fall out prematurely, permanent teeth may come in malpositioned. 

Myth 4: Osteoporosis only affects the spine and hips

Osteoporosis can also lead to tooth loss. Tufts professors say calcium and vitamins D and K can help stave off the losses.

Myth 5: Dentures improve a person's diet

But not if they don't fit well. In that case, wearers are likely to go for soft foods that are often unhealthy such as cakes or pastries. The Tufts folks point those with discomfort to get a denture adjustment and, in the meantime, cook vegetables and eat canned fruits that are generally softer and easier to chew. And drink fluids to prevent dry mouth.

Myth 6: Dental decay is only a problem for young people

Receding gums can lead to root decay in older people. That's common for those whose saliva is reduced -- impacting the clensing action -- by antidepressants, duiretics, antihistamines and sedatives. Drinking water can compensate. Those with conditions such as diabetes need to take special care because they are more at risk of oral health problems, and peridontal disease can make those maladies worse.  

Baltimore Sun file photo/Doug Kapustin

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

After years of efforts to reduce youth smoking, little progress has been made, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Conrtol and Prevention.

One in five high schooler is still smoking.

Smoking among high school student began to decline across the country in the late 1990s, the CDC said. But the rate of decline slowed from 2003 to 2009, according to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The rate slowed for all racial/ethnic groups.

This means the country has not met its 2010 goal of reducing cigarette use among high school students to 16 percent or less.

"Although 4 of 5 don't smoke, it's discouraging to see that current smoking did not continue to decline more rapidly among youth," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden in a statement. "Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in this country and 9 out of 10 adults started smoking in their teens or earlier. The slow progress since 2003 tells us that much more needs to be done to reduce youth smoking."

The CDC called for a renewed push to curb teen smoking. Officials said effective strategies include expanded mass media campaigns, less tobacco advertising, promotions, reduced availability of tobacco products, tobacco-free environments, programs that promote changes in school norms and higher tobacco taxes.

Continue reading "CDC: 1 in 5 high schoolers still smoking" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Eating carrots won't improve your vision. That's a myth. But it will protect your vision, according to VSP Vision Care, a non-profit provider of vision services in a new video.

Carrots have vitamins and nutrients, such as vitamin A, C and E that can reduce the impacts of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Some 30 percent of eye care providers are asked at least once a week about carrots improving vision, according to VSP.

But doctors say that carrots and other healthy foods are important. Lutein, zeaxanthin and minerals including zinc, copper and selenium can help protect the retina, which is the light- sensitive part of the back of the eye. Special fatty acids in fish protect the retina and can help the eyes maintain a layor of protective moisture.  
 
“One of the keys to keeping your vision healthy is an overall healthy diet. Developing good eating habits and a balanced diet to maintain proper levels of the important vitamins A, C, E as well as lutein and zinc such as are found in fruits and vegetables will help to lower the risk of some of these serious vision related problems in the future,” said Roger Phelps, an eye doctor in the VSP system, said in a statement.
 
The eye docs recommend eating these foods at least three times a week for good eye health:

+Carrots, kale, spinach, dairy products, egg yolks for vitamin A 
+Citrus fruits, especially kiwi, and juices, green peppers, broccoli, potatoes for vitamin C
+Eggs, whole grains, vegetable oils, sunflower seeds for vitamin E
+Spinach, corn, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts for lutein and zeaxanthin
+Coldwater fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and rainbow trout, and sunflower oil and corn oil for omega-3 fatty acids
+Meat, poultry, fish, whole grains, dairy products for zinc
 
See videos on this subject and others produced by VSP on Facebook or YouTube.   

Baltimore sun file photo/Andre F. Chung

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Categories: Healthy Living
        

Some local health and consumer groups are presenting two lawmakers with a "Children's Health Advocate of the Year" award for their work in passing a ban on bisphenol-A, or BPA, from baby bottles and sippy cups.

Maryland PIRG, Maryland Nurses Association, Black Nurses Association and MomsRising.org plan to present the award today at 11 a.m. on Lawyers' Mall in Annapolis to Sen. Brian Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat, and Del. James Hubbard, a Prince George's Democrat, for their efforts.

They helped the state become the fourth state to restrict the use of the chemical BPA.

The chemical has been linked to several problems with miscarriage, early puberty, birth defects and cancer. The federal government is currently studying the issue but has not acted, prompting several states to take action.

The bills are HB 33 and SB 213, signed by Gov. O’Malley on April 13.         

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Baltimore City has had food problems for years. There isn't enough healthy food in all parts of town and that means more obesity and more heart disease and diabetes, particularly in poorer neighborhoods.

But Tuesday, a task force formed in 2007 to look at the problem came out with a report that had 10 recommendations. Some the city has already started on: expanding and promoting farmers' markets, improving school lunches and increasing home delivery of groceries.

But others will take longer: Expanding community assisted agriculture, where people pay upfront for produce from a local farmer all season. Only, the task force wants residents to be able to pay in installments.

Another suggestion is researching ways to deal with food deserts, those vast expanses where there are no major groceries, just corner stores and that may not sell fresh fruit and other good foods.

Other ideas include encouraging vendors to carry healthy food, turning vacant lots into community gardens and further expanding home delivery. On that front, the city got $60,000 in federal money to launch a program at a couple of libraries. Residents can order online and pick up their food there.

A new food czar also was introduced yesterday. Hollu Freishtat's pay comes from private sources, but she'll work with city agencies, businesses and nonprofits to help figure out some of these intractable problems. She wants to start by involving city kids in an ad campaign to promote good eating and getting more farmers' markets to accept food stamps.

So, how's your city neighborhood? You have access to healthy food? You have ideas to get it to others?

Read my full story in The Sun. And find the whole report at www.baltimorecity.gov, keyword "food policy."

Baltimore Sun file photo of a city farmers' market 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

The proliferation of cell phones is leading to a new range of pain, according to Dr. Mark Sobor of ChicagoHealers.com .

All that texting is causing neck, shoulder, hand and arm pain, including the same kinds of repetitive motion injuries as those who type on computer keyboards a lot. Further, cell phones are really designed for all that writing. 

Dr. Sobor says people tend to hunch over, putting strain on their neck and upper backs. They tend to use only one thumb to type, focusing strain on one side. And repeated motions of some muscles deprives them of oxygen, causing them to spasm.

Here are his tips, in his words:

*Prepare for texting like for a physical workout. Warm up and stretch your muscles.

*Improve your posture. Don't hunch over while texting. Place your phone or PDA on a surface where you don't strain your neck and upper back bending over to see the screen.

*Take frequent breaks. Put the phone down between texts, get up and move around.  Regularly open and close your fingers and stretch them.

*Stretch your forearm muscles by extending your arm with palm facing up and using the other hand to pull your palm toward the floor.  Hold for 15 seconds, repeat 2 or 3 times for each arm.

*Use both thumbs to text and keep messages short.

So, someone want to give these tips a try and let us know how they work?

Baltimore Sun file photo/Amy Davis

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Santa's got a big gut. It's part of Old St. Nick's jolly appeal. But it is NOT a good public health image, so says an Australian researcher who advises Father Christmas to lay off the fattening food and swap his sleigh for a bike or better yet, just walk.

Is he joking? Seems like it. Images of Santa promote obesity, driving under the influence, speeding and a generally unhealthy lifestyle, writes Dr. Nathan Grills of Monash University in Australia, in the article appearing in the British Medical Journal.

UPDATE: See our later interview with Grills, who says his article was a Christmas spoof.

A boozing Santa is news to me. Apparently down under Santa takes a few swigs of brandy before he sets off to his next house. After visiting a few, well, billion homes, he could get mighty tipsy, says a release for the article. As far as speeding, is there much traffic in the skies on Christmas Eve? I wonder.

Anyhow, Grills thinks Santa needs an image overhaul, with a healthy lifestyle that kids can look up to.   

"Santa sells, and sometimes he sells harmful products" according to Gills in a statement. "Like Coca-Cola, Santa has become a major export item to the developing world."

Continue reading "Santa the bad public health influence" »

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

So, the big 5K race on Saturday turned out to be... well, a piece of cake! Ok, exaggeration. It wasn't easy, but it certainly wasn't as scary as we made it out to be.

It was, in fact, heaps of fun. So much so that we're already talking about taking part in the Baltimore Running Festival's relay team next year or --gasp-- maybe a 10K come spring. To think, a year ago, my idea of running was a quick scurry across the street to make the light. Yes, we have thoroughly lost our minds.

Stephanie, my former colleague here at Picture of Health, and I held a steady -- i.e. slow -- pace throughout the 3.1 miles. That was key for us first-timers. Our expert running colleagues Julie Scharper and Anica Butler, meanwhile, left us in the dust early on. But we didn't mind so much. Stephanie and I chatted the whole time, waved at the awesome spectators who were cheering us on and didn't once try to walk or roll up in the fetal position on the corner somewhere. We really couldn't have asked for a better day with the cool breeze, throngs of cheering onlookers and upbeat music blasting when we made it to the finish line.

Real runners talk about that endorphin rush that comes after any meaningful run. I'm not sure if I felt that, or rather, complete and utter relief that the race was over. Nevertheless, I spent the rest of the day smiling at my new accomplishment, eager to set the next challenge.

Anyone else take part in the Baltimore Running Festival this weekend? How'd it go?!

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

A few days ago, we discussed the scary tale of E.coli contamination in hamburgers and some of you commented that you had gone vegetarian  to avoid the recent meat scares.

Well, turns out veggies can be bad for you too. Leafy greens, tomatoes, even sprouts are among the 10 foods that pose the biggest risks of food poisoning, according to a new report from the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. These 10 foods account for nearly 40 percent of all foodborne outbreaks linked to FDA-regulated food, the report found. Jeesh.

Leafy greens top the list, followed by eggs and tuna, foods with nutrients that doctors have told us for years are essential for good health. Cheese, a great source of calcium, came in at #6 and berries -- loaded with antioxidants -- round out the list at #10. Also on the list: oysters, ice cream and potatoes.

Together, the 10 foods resulted in more than 1,500 outbreaks, responsible for nearly 50,000 reported illnesses, according to the center. Many more illnesses may go untreated and unreported, so the figure may actually be much larger, the center said.

So, let's get this straight. We've been told that processed foods are bad and meat has its risks, but now that veggies are getting a bad rap, what exactly are we supposed to eat?

Continue reading "Even healthy foods pose risks" »

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Boots are in style these days, but they aren’t always comfortable and healthy for your feet. So, the American Podiatric Medical Association  has come out with a handy-dandy chart that shows the kind of boots people favor and what to look for when shopping for them.

For example, if you like snow boots, look for ones with rubber bottoms and deep grooves for traction. If you like cowboy boots, don’t wear them too long because the toe space is too limiting.

Use arch insoles with your rain boots for support in such a rigid boot. And limit the height of fancy dress boots and look for a substantial heel so you don’t fall over.

Some tips for buying boots: Have your feet measured because your feet can change sizes; try boots on in the afternoon because your feet swell throughout the day; buy for your larger foot (people tend to have two different size feet); and carry an insole in case the boots don’t have arch support.

Also, make sure there is plenty of toe room, a good sturdy heel and traction; make sure they fit in the store because there shouldn’t be a "break in" period; and look for natural materials like leather that will keep your feet dry and comfortable in the winter.

And perhaps the most important advice: Take the boots off occasionally and wear some comfortable sneakers!

Associated Press file photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Are you a runner -- or interested in becoming one? The Baltimore Marathon is coming (Oct. 10) and our friends at The Sun have launched a handy webpage to keep you posted on the latest marathon info.

Anyone planning to run in this year's marathon?

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

The way a group of leading nutritionists and economists sees it, taxing sugar-sweetened beverages could lead to smaller waistlines, expanded government coffers and big savings on health care costs.

In a report published in today's New England Journal of Medicine, the group, led by Yale's Kelly D. Brownell, tries to make the case for a 1 percent per ounce excise tax on caloric sodas, fruit drinks and other beverages containing high-fructose corn syrup. They say that these drinks are a major culprit in the nation's obesity epidemic and costs associated with overweight and obesity issues are estimated to be 9 percent of all health care expenditures in the U.S.

"The science base linking the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to the risk of chronic disease is clear," they write.

Continue reading "The case for a soda tax" »

Posted by Stephanie Desmon at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Do you take natural supplements to ease your joints, visit a chiropractor for an achy back or do a little yoga here and there to find your Zen? Count yourself among the Americans who spent $34 billion last year on alternative medicine, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health.

About $22 billion of that total was spent on everything from yoga classes and acupuncturists' visits to natural supplements such as fish oil, glucosamine and Echinacea (multivitamins and mineral supplements don't count).

For context, about $14.8 billion went to the supplements -- that's about one-third the total out of pocket spending on prescription drugs. Meanwhile, another $12 billion went to practitioners such as chiropractors and massage therapists -- roughly a quarter of out-of-pocket spending on doctors visits.  

So do they work?

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Posted by Kelly Brewington at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Electronic cigarettes -- smokeless devices marketed as a way to deliver nicotine without the harmful effects of tobacco smoke -- may be just as unsafe as the products they mimic, officials with the Food and Drug Administration said yesterday.

For months, the FDA has wanted to keep e-cigarettes, as they are known, from being sold in the United States. They have blocked shipments at the border. They have warned that people can't know what they are inhaling when they use the product. But their efforts are being held up, as an e-cigarette manufacturer questions in court whether the FDA has regulatory authority over the devices.

Now, the FDA is saying that a small sample of e-cigarettes that it analyzed contained carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze.

Continue reading "FDA: E-cigarettes contain bad stuff, too" »

Posted by Stephanie Desmon at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Healthy Living