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L.A. Health News - July, 2004
Title: 10 Top Ways to Keep Healthy Under Stress
Stress can take its toll on both your mental and physical well-being, explains Dr. Melissa C. Stoppler on the web at http://stress.about.com. If you have a high-stress lifestyle, check out these ten ways to keep yourself healthy.
1. Reduce Caffeine Intake.
Studies have shown that caffeine can increase levels of stress hormones and these increases may persist all day long and up to bedtime.
2. Take along some healthy food.
If you've got some healthy food with you (fruit, bagels, and yogurt can be bought quickly nearly everywhere) you wont suffer the consequences of missed meals and fat-laden fast foods binges.
3. Don't "treat" stress symptoms.
Don't fall victim to the trap of "treating" your tiredness, lack of energy, anxiety or worries with alcohol, sedatives, stimulants, nicotine, or other substances. You'll only worsen the stress symptoms in the long run.
4. Evaluate dietary supplements carefully.
Not everyone under stress needs supplemental vitamins and minerals. Take a look at your diet and ask your doctor if you would benefit from dietary supplements if you're unsure. More is not necessarily better, and get medical advice before trying any unconventional "stress cures."
5. Eat breakfast.
Even if you're running out the door late for your first meeting, grab a bite to eat. A busy schedule requires energy, and stress amplifies our need for adequate fuel. A bonus is that your mood will improve too.
6. Drink water.
Eight glasses per day is the recommended amount, but having water at your desk or in your bag to sip all day is a practical way to maintain healthy hydration. Sipping water will also give you something to do when nervous, and this healthy practice might help you resist the urge for caffeine or junk food.
7. Make sleep a priority.
Chances are, your personal time is very limited if your day is packed with stress. Prioritize your need for sleep and recognize sleep for the valuable rejuvenation time it provides. You may have to sacrifice social events or household chores, but don't skimp on sleep.
8. Don't fall prey to denial.
If you are experiencing serious psychological or physical symptoms, don't just write them off as "due to stress." It's better to detect and diagnose problems early when they are most treatable and manageable. Don't let a stressful lifestyle blind your awareness of your body and its performance.
9. Walk somewhere each day.
While you might not have time for a workout, you can emphasize walking in your daily schedule. Just 10-15 minutes can help clear your head and improve your mood. Walking can be integrated into almost any type of schedule and needn't be planned in advance. Just seize the opportunities for a walk (even better, in fresh air when they arise).
10. Schedule medical and dental appointments.
Regular checkups and health screenings are an absolute must for those with stressful lifestyles. Make appointments well in advance and enter them into your planner so you'll be able to plan your schedule around these appointments.
L.A. Health News - July, 2004
Title: Your Kids
Vitamin Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency may be a common but unrecognized problem among US adolescents,
new study findings suggest.
Researchers found that among 11-to-18 year olds living in Boston, nearly one-quarter were
deficient in Vitamin D, a nutrient that aids in calcium absorption and is vital for healthy
bone development. That so many adolescents were low on the vitamin is both surprising and "very
concerning." According to lead study author Dr. Catherine M. Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston.
"The problem occurred at a much higher rate than we expected," she told Reuters Health, noting
that "we shouldn't have vitamin D deficiency in this country."
That's because the problem is preventable with an adequate diet and time outdoors. The body
naturally synthesizes vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun, and milk and certain other
foods, including many breakfast cereals, are fortified with the vitamin.
But US children increasingly fill up on soft drinks at the expense of milk and spend more time
in front of the TV or computer than outdoors.
Gordon pointed out that her study found that soft drink, juice and iced tea intake were related
to a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency. ON the other hand, adolescents who said they drank milk
and ate cereal were less likely to be low on the vitamin.
The findings are published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Teenage Stress
The approach teenage diabetics take to coping with problems may help determine how well they
manage their disease, according to a new study. Researchers found that among 103 teens with
Type 1 diabetes, those with more practical positive responses to life's difficulties showed
better blood sugar control than those who had more negative attitudes.
In general, teens who said that when faced with a problem, they resolve to do something about
it - what researchers call "active coping" had better long-term control over their blood sugar
levels.
On the other hand, those who said they dealt with stress by getting angry or by giving up showed
poorer blood sugar control according to findings published in the journal Diabetes Care.
The results suggest that counseling focused on teens' "coping styles" should be integrated into
routine diabetes care according to lead study author Marit Graue, of Haukeland University Hospital
in Bergen, Norway.
Girls Vengeance
Among children aged 8 through 14 injured in fights, girls are more likely than boys to get into a
brawl in retaliation for previous grievances, new research reports.
Investigators found that violent events involving girls were more then six times as likely as
boy-only encounter to be a "recurrence of a previous fight."
Although the reasons for this difference remain unclear, girls at this age may simply be more
"skilled" at planning violent events in response to an ongoing issue, a study author told
Reuters Health.
"In contract, young boys may react more "in the moment." Noted Dr. Cynthia J. Mollen of the
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. In 2001 alone, more than 2,000 children between the ages
of 5 and 19 were killed as a result of a violent encounter with a peer. Although fighting tends
to occur more often in boys, a recent survey found that nearly one-quarter of high school girls
say they were in at least on physical fight during the previous year. These findings suggest
that preventing violence among girls may often involve "teaching girls how to deal with a
conflict when it first arises rather than letting it build up over time," Mollen suggested.
Dangerously Dehydrated
Children participating in summer sports camps may not be drinking enough to replace the fluids
they lose during exercise, according to a new report.
A survey of kids attending Pennsylvania soccer camps showed that most of the boys and girls were
dehydrated by their second day of camp. By the fourth day, 59% of boys and 70% of girls were
significantly or seriously dehydrated. Study author Dr. Douglas Casa noted that all campers had
access to fluids and were encouraged to drink but clearly more should be done to make sure kids
get the fluids they need.
"You can have fluids available, but that's' not necessarily going to mean the lids are going to
drink," he told Reuters Health.
Casa suggested that camp counselors educate campers about the importance of staying hydrated,
tell kids how much fluid to drink during breaks and encourage them to drink lots of fluids
outside of camp.
Boston Herald - Thursday, December 5, 2002, page D3
Title: Breaking Through the Drug Bureaucracy
Seriously ill patients can gain access to experimental drugs. Some tips for navigating the obstacle course:
Tracking Down the Drug Maker
Most have Web sites or can be found via www.pharmacy.org/company,
www.cato.com/biotech/bio-co.html, www.pdr.net, www.phrma.org or
www.bio.org. Also check the Physician's Desk Reference at a library.
Most companies have phone lines for clinical trials. Start asking questions there.
Getting Details on Expanded Access Programs
Drug makers with EAP's usually have phone numbers for them.
Check company Web sites or ask the FDA's Office of Special Health
Issues - Cancer Liaison Program at 301-827-4460.
Learning About Single-Patient Access
If there's no EAP (or if you don't qualify), don't give up.
Some companies may still provide medication on an individual basis.
But policies vary greatly - some companies don't have a formal policy at all.
Finding the Right Person to Speak To
You'll need to push to be heard, especially if no company policy exists. If you have cancer, try to reach the medical director for oncology clinical development. Be ready to get creative in reaching that person on the phone.
Recruiting Your Doctor to Help
Some patients who have gone this route suggest going so far as to schedule a time for the physician to call the company contact.
Enlisting the Help of Others
The FDA's Office of Special Health Issues may have advice on how to approach a drug company.
Ask your doctor to contact directly the researchers doing clinical trials for the drug. Sometimes drug makers allow the research doctors to give a new drug to a handful of patients outside the study. (The jargon: This is called site-specific protocol.)
Contact patient-advocacy groups for your ailment. It may already be waging a campaign to get the drug.
How to Meet FDA Requirements
In every case, the FDA must approve your use of an unapproved drug outside a clinical trial. If you are eligible for expanded-access, the drug maker's staff will help you through the process. If the drug company agrees to single-patient access, your doctor must get the FDA approval. The Office of Special Health Issues can help outline the process (which can be quick).
The FDA's Web site www.fda.gov/cder/cancer/singleind.htm details how to apply for single-patient exceptions.
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