Tag: health

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5BX

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A little while back I read about an 11 minute exercise routine that both Prince Charles and William engage in each morning that is or was mandated by the military at some point and now they just do it to get in tip-top shape, or something like that.
In case you didn’t know, I have had a on-going fitness regimen parade, chock full of of starts and stops, marching for years now. My baton is now directing the parade to this time saving / good enough for royalty routine because among other reasons, for someone who lives and dies by the clock, where one minute really matters (i.e. being one minute late for a train might stick me in Hoboken for 90 minutes), it is especially attractive. So, I decided to find out what they were doing and do it. And it really didn’t take too much effort.
I learned they are using the 5BX (Five Basic Exercises) Plan, which is an exercise program developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) by Bill Orban in the late 1950s, first published in 1961. That explains the dated but awesome artwork, font and tone and voice in the original pamphlet that I saw.
I read it three times to get familiar with the exercises and then used a scan of the original 5BX Booklet to work out tonight for the first time, and am happy to say that I got C’s, B’s and an A on Chart 1 which means there is only room for improvement (one can go from chart 1 to 5). I just need to buckle down and exert will power over my bad self. Easier sad than done, but I’m optimistic.
For instance, I will easily run the slowest 5k of my life this coming Saturday but I’m going to start and finish the damn race because its Valentines Day and giving myself a better physical shape is a good present. Plus, the race is my town’s installment of the Cupid’s Chase, which is a pretty cool charity race. Not only is it a race that raises money for charity (in this case one that develops homes and employment for people with developmental disabilities) but its held simultaneously in 25 different cities in 10 different states. The home page features a video of the race last year in the Rock, and that because a Real Housewife of NJ actor ran it. Yay Jerz!

health

On Depression's Upside

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Jonah Lehrer’s recent article in the Gray Lady about depression’s possible upside was provocative, insightful, intelligent, dangerous and a whole slew of other adjectives.
While some psychiatrists regard the theory that depression can be good for you “as little more than irresponsible speculation, a justification for human suffering,” others are buying into it.
The types of depressed people who do not bathe, neglect their kids, etc – those need real help and real medicine. But for a lot of others, the scientists that Lehrer centers on, Andy Thompson and Paul Andrews, basically are saying that “if depression didn’t exist — if we didn’t react to stress and trauma with endless ruminations — then we would be less likely to solve our predicaments. Wisdom isn’t cheap, and we pay for it with pain.” That line would make a great poster – I can see across a backdrop of a boxer getting clobbered right in the face (more on fighters later).
The passage below comes towards the end of the rather long article. The Andreasen mentioned in it is neuroscientist Nancy Andreasen who conducted a study of 30 writers from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop which found that eighty percent of the writers met the formal diagnostic criteria for some form of depression. Shocker! She never saw my 300 level creative writing class but it was the same story.

Why is mental illness so closely associated with creativity? Andreasen argues that depression is intertwined with a “cognitive style” that makes people more likely to produce successful works of art. In the creative process, Andreasen says, “one of the most important qualities is persistence.” Based on the Iowa sample, Andreasen found that “successful writers are like prizefighters who keep on getting hit but won’t go down. They’ll stick with it until it’s right.” While Andreasen acknowledges the burden of mental illness — she quotes Robert Lowell on depression not being a “gift of the Muse” and describes his reliance on lithium to escape the pain — she argues that many forms of creativity benefit from the relentless focus it makes possible. “Unfortunately, this type of thinking is often inseparable from the suffering,” she says. “If you’re at the cutting edge, then you’re going to bleed.”

Powerful stuff. This article had two bonafide great lines, the one earlier about wisdom and the one above about bleeding on the cutting edge. If you read the article, post a comment and I’ll be happy to respond. This is one of those topics that could engender a lot of conversation.

science

Yes, We Might Have No Bananas

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Can you imagine a world with no bananas in it? No? Well, unless something drastic happens, you are going to have to not only imagine that scenario but be prepared to live it. Its a fact that is well under the radar considering all of the dismal news that keeps getting bandied about but bananas are dying from a fungus called Panama Disease which turns bananas brick-red and inedible.
The scary part is that there is no cure and that all bananas die as it spreads, and it spreads quickly. Soon – in five, 10 or 30 years bananas as we know them will not exist.
Via Neu

science

More Green Versus Brown News

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For all those potheads out there, WGTCTIP2 has some good news for you. To follow up on a post from a few months back about the long term effects of smoking marijuana, according to the findings of a new study at the University of California Los Angeles “that surprised even the researchers,” marijuana smoking does not increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer. Smoking cigarettes however definitely does, so if you are currently smoking and you must smoke something, switch from the brown stuff to the green stuff immediately. Not only will your lungs be healthier, but your appetite will improve and marginally funny movies and television will become magically more amusing.
After the jump, feel free to read the Reuters report.
Via Phyl
Study finds no marijuana link to lung cancer
By Deena Beasley Tue May 23, 9:40 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Marijuana smoking does not increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer, according to the findings of a new study at the University of California Los Angeles that surprised even the researchers.
They had expected to find that a history of heavy marijuana use, like cigarette smoking, would increase the risk of cancer.
Instead, the study, which compared the lifestyles of 611 Los Angeles County lung cancer patients and 601 patients with head and neck cancers with those of 1,040 people without cancer, found no elevated cancer risk for even the heaviest pot smokers. It did find a 20-fold increased risk of lung cancer in people who smoked two or more packs of cigarettes a day.
The study results were presented in San Diego on Tuesday at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society.
The study was confined to people under age 60 since baby boomers were the most likely age group to have long-term exposure to marijuana, said Dr. Donald Tashkin, senior researcher and professor at the UCLA School of Medicine.
The results should not be taken as a blank check to smoke pot, which has been associated with problems like cognitive impairment and chronic bronchitis, said Dr. John Hansen-Flaschen, chief of pulmonary and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia. He was not involved in the study.
Previous studies showed marijuana tar contained about 50 percent more of the chemicals linked to lung cancer, compared with tobacco tar, Tashkin said. In addition, smoking a marijuana joint deposits four times more tar in the lungs than smoking an equivalent amount of tobacco.
“Marijuana is packed more loosely than tobacco, so there’s less filtration through the rod of the cigarette, so more particles will be inhaled,” Tashkin said in a statement. “And marijuana smokers typically smoke differently than tobacco smokers — they hold their breath about four times longer, allowing more time for extra fine particles to deposit in the lung.”
He theorized that tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a chemical in marijuana smoke that produces its psychotropic effect, may encourage aging, damaged cells to die off before they become cancerous.
Hansen-Flaschen also cautioned a cancer-marijuana link could emerge as baby boomers age and there may be smaller population groups, based on genetics or other factors, still at risk for marijuana-related cancers.

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Green Versus Brown

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Although both marijuana and tobacco smoke are packed with cancer-causing chemicals, other qualities of marijuana seem to keep it from promoting lung cancer, according to a new report. In the latest issue of Harm Reduction Journal, Dr. Robert Melamede of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs says that the difference rests in the often opposing actions of the nicotine in tobacco and the active ingredient, THC, in marijuana.

After the jump, read the entire article which I grabbed in case it goes bye-bye. I know a few people who are going to be very excited to hear about this bit o’ news.

Via Phyll

Smoking pot not a major cancer risk: report

Reuters Health

October 26, 2005 09:04:12 AM PST

Although both marijuana and tobacco smoke are packed with cancer-causing chemicals, other qualities of marijuana seem to keep it from promoting lung cancer, according to a new report.

The difference rests in the often opposing actions of the nicotine in tobacco and the active ingredient, THC, in marijuana, says Dr. Robert Melamede of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.
He reviewed the scientific evidence supporting this contention in a recent issue of Harm Reduction Journal.

Whereas nicotine has several effects that promote lung and other types of cancer, THC acts in ways that counter the cancer-causing chemicals in marijuana smoke, Melamede explained in an interview with Reuters Health.

“THC turns down the carcinogenic potential,” he said.

For example, lab research indicates that nicotine activates a body enzyme that converts certain chemicals in both tobacco and marijuana smoke into cancer-promoting form. In contrast, studies in mice suggest that THC blocks this enzyme activity.

Another key difference, Melamede said, is in the immune system effects of tobacco and marijuana. Smoke sends irritants into the respiratory system that trigger an immune-regulated inflammatory response, which involves the generation of potentially cell-damaging substances called free radicals. These particles are believed to contribute to a range of diseases, including cancer.

But cannabinoids — both those found in marijuana and the versions found naturally in the body — have been shown to dial down this inflammatory response, Melamede explained.

Another difference between tobacco and marijuana smoking, he said, has to do with cells that line the respiratory tract. While these cells have receptors that act as docks for nicotine, similar receptors for THC and other cannabinoids have not been found.

Nicotine, Melamede said, appears to keep these cells from committing “suicide” when they are genetically damaged, by smoking, for instance. When such cells do not kill themselves off, they are free to progress into tumors.

THC, however, does not appear to act this way in the respiratory tract — though, in the brain, where there are cannabinoid receptors, it may have the beneficial effect of protecting cells from death when they are damaged from an injury or stroke, according to Melamede.

All of this, he said, fits in with population studies that have failed to link marijuana smoking with a higher risk of lung cancer — though there is evidence that pot users have more respiratory problems, such as chronic cough and frequent respiratory infections.

If marijuana does not promote lung cancer, that could factor into the ongoing debate over so-called medical marijuana. Melamede said he believes “marijuana has loads of medicinal value,” for everything from multiple sclerosis, to the chronic pain of arthritis, to nausea caused by cancer treatment.

U.S. government officials, however, maintain that the evidence for medical marijuana is not there. Ten states allow people to use marijuana with a doctor’s prescription, but the Supreme Court has ruled that federal law trumps state law.

SOURCE: Harm Reduction Journal, October 18, 2005.

ramblings

How Does Water Expire?

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I have been in all-day Client meetings the past 2 days where access to the good old office water cooler is not possible. So, I have been drinking bottled water. I happened to notice on my .500 mL bottle of Dannon Natural Spring Water that it was bottled on 8/11/05 at 16:59. That was nice to know I guess. I also noticed right under those stats that it will expire in August, 2007. No more specifics were given. So, I thought to myself, how the fuck does water expire?

In case you are wondering, I’ll tell you. Water is known as the universal solvent. What that means is that it will absorb almost anything. So, even though it’s been on earth for millions of years, once you put water in a bottle it’s life is limited. It’s actually better for you to drink tap water than bottle water because fluorescent lights, the kind of lights that illuminate every convenience store in the world, help grow bacteria. During the bottling process, there are various processes used to clean up the water including filtration and ozonation. If too much ozone was added, the plastic will leach into the bottles. If too little ozone was added, bacteria can start growing immediately. Awesome!
Now, take that gross tap water. The tap water that arrives at your house is just hours from where it has continuously been tested for hundreds of contaminants. Even with a bottled date, I would prefer freshly tested water than water that has been in a bodega or in a corporate pantry for months. Next, if your teeth important to you you should almost definitely skip bottled water. While bottled water does not have fluoride, most city municipal systems add fluoride to their supply.
So, the next time you are at someone’s house or apartment and they don’t have a Brita, don’t worry. Turn on the tap. Forget the marketing bullshit that everyone is selling you. Relax. And enjoy a cold drink of water. Because its probably better for you than a bottle of Poland Spring/Dasani/Dannon/Deer Park/Evian/etc.

Don’t believe me? Check out this past episode of Penn and Teller’s Bullshit which showed that tap water is usually safer for you, and often better tasting too. Or, if you don’t like “comedy,” you can always peruse the NRDC’s report on bottled water titled “Pure Drink or Pure Hype?” which found that there are major gaps in bottled water regulation and that bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water.

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Bedside Chat

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I read in today’s NY Times a great story by Thomas W. Gross M.D. about how sometimes the best prescription a doctor can offer is simply lending his ear. I have provided the full text after the jump.

How Much for an Hour of Schmoozing, Doc?

By THOMAS W. GROSS, M.D. May 17, 2005

In our economy, productivity is often measured in units of time. Time is then converted to money. We hire architects, lawyers, plumbers and piano teachers, and we pay them by the hour.

The current medical reimbursement system pays by the job performed, not by the time spent.

Your appendectomy is charged on a flat rate, like a brake job. The surgeon who performs your appendectomy gets paid the same if he takes one hour or two, as long as he takes out only one appendix.

Your family doctor receives the same reimbursement for diagnosing a sinus infection in 6 minutes as he does if he takes 30 minutes.

In our current system, there is no way to buy an hour of your doctor’s time just to talk.

The doctor can give you that time free, but under most health plans he cannot bill you for it.

With the current rate of exchange, as dictated by the health insurance companies, an hour spent talking with your physician has no value.

One night when I was an intern, the nurses paged me around 2 a.m. and requested a sleeping pill for an elderly man with an infection. Imagine that – being unable to sleep in a hospital. That hardly ever happens.

I was up anyway. Interns never sleep, except at lectures, and sometimes in the hospital cafeteria. I was waiting for the results of some laboratory tests for a recent admission.

Because not all sleeping pills are created equal, I went to see this patient before ordering any medication for him. I pulled up a chair, and sat by his bedside. We started to talk.

I learned that he was Hungarian. Before World War II, when he lived in Budapest, he had been a lawyer, a specialist in international law.

Given his description of Eastern Europe in the late 1930’s, I tried to imagine how challenging his job must have been.

After the war broke out, he was drafted, and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, ultimately serving in six different armies, first in Poland, then back in Hungary and then in Romania.

He was later drafted into the German Wehrmacht, and then escaped and was captured by the British. So desperate were the various armies for cannon fodder that original allegiances were immaterial.

He eventually served in the Canadian forces, and then the United States Army. After that, he immigrated to this country and obtained American citizenship.

Ineligible to sit for the bar exam, or to practice law in the United States, he found a job as a janitor in the university library. He eventually worked his way up to become the assistant librarian at the law school.

In his hospital room, we sat and talked for quite a while, but about history, not medicine. I got a glass of water for him and a cup of burnt coffee for myself. He taught me some jokes in Hungarian, and a few in Polish and Ukrainian.

Most of the jokes were about the Communists. It took him forever to get me to understand the punch lines from different languages and cultures, but once I did, we both laughed.

He finally said he was becoming tired, and he fell asleep as I was turning out the light. I slipped away and wandered down the quiet hallway to check my overdue lab reports.

Even in my sleep-deprived state, I was not oblivious to the lesson he had taught me. Rather than prescribe a medication to make him drowsy, I had let him talk himself to sleep.

The next morning, he was more alert than he would have been if I had prescribed a sleeping aid. His infection had abated enough to allow him to go home.

The colonel slept through the night. Twenty years later, I remember more about him than I would have if I had called in a tranquilizer.

I still remember how to say “to your health” in seven Eastern European languages. You’d be amazed how frequently that comes in handy.

I still remember how many K.G.B. agents it takes to screw in a light bulb.

I hope I never forget what I learned that night: Time is not money. Time is medicine.

ramblings

Because I’m Fat, I’m Fat, Really Really Fat

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This is burger was just introduced by the Hardee’s fast food chain. Yes, it looks ridiculously delicious. It’s called the Monster Thickburger and is made of two 1/3-pound slabs of Angus beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame seed bun.

Now for the downside: it contains 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat. That’s right. 107 grams of fat. Your intake for the day is supposed to be around 60 grams of fat. This burger gives you enough fat for 2 days. I would need to bike for 4 hours (at 10 mph) to burn this puppy off. Oh but it looks so tasty…

After the jump read the article that was on MSNBC about it. Thanks Neu for making my mouth water.

Hardee’s serves up 1,420-calorie burger; Fast-food giant skips diet craze, creates fat-filled sandwich

The Associated Press

Updated: 12:47 p.m. ET Nov. 16, 2004

ST. LOUIS – As many fast-food chains introduce healthier fare amid fears of being sued, Hardee’s is serving up a hamburger with 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat.

St. Louis-based Hardee’s Food Systems Inc. on Monday rolled out its Monster Thickburger – two 1/3-pound slabs of Angus beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame seed bun. The sandwich alone sells for $5.49, $7.09 with fries and a soda.

The introduction comes at a time when McDonald’s Corp., Wendy’s International Inc. and other fast-food giants have broadened their offerings of salad and other lower-calorie fare amid concerns that the industry could be held legally liable for America’s obesity epidemic. Last year, a federal judge in New York dismissed two class-action suits blaming McDonald’s for making people fat. McDonald’s was also skewered earlier this year by “Super Size Me,” an award-winning documentary that targeted the fast food industry.

Even before the new Monster Thickburger, the chain offered five sandwiches with 1,000 calories or more, and eight overall that have more calories than what was once the big-burger standard – McDonald’s 600-calorie Big Mac.

“Maybe this is a smart strategy because there are still folks out there who care about the taste and size of their sandwich, and less about their weight,” said Jerry McVety, president of the restaurant consulting firm McVety & Associates in Farmington Hills, Mich.

In trading Monday, shares of Hardee’s parent company, CKE Restaurants Inc., closed up 13 cents, or 1 percent, at $12.63.