Entries Tagged 'Health' ↓
April 5th, 2009 — Babies, Health
Bisphenol A Controversy
In February 2007, the public advocacy group Environment California Research & Policy Center published a report titled Toxic Baby Bottles: Scientific Study Finds Leaching Chemicals in Clear Plastic Baby Bottles. The report describes the harmful effects of the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA), a developmental, reproductive, and neural toxicant found in polycarbonate plastic—the material used to make the vast majority of baby bottles.
Soon after this report was released, a billion dollar class-action lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles against five major baby bottle manufacturers over the dangers of BPA. The lawsuit alleges that potentially harmful levels of BPA can leach from polycarbonate baby bottles, when they are heated, and migrate into the contained liquid. The California legislature has also debated the safety of BPA, and next year supervisors in San Francisco will consider a citywide ban on BPA.
Chemical companies and baby bottle manufacturers claim human exposure to low doses of BPA is harmless. Yet there is growing scientific evidence to the contrary. In August 2007, an expert government panel found there is concern that bisphenol A causes neural and behavior problems among children who have been exposed to the chemical before or after birth.
Many consumers are unaware of this controversy and continue to purchase polycarbonate baby bottles, having never heard of BPA or the dangers it may pose for their families.
BPA is also widespread in bodies of water such as rivers and estuaries, and in landfills, where it leaches into the surrounding ecosystems.
The resources below are intended to provide you with greater detail about the bisphenol a controversy.
– Green to Grow
April 5th, 2009 — Babies, Health
The Baby Bottle Buying Guide:
Glass: Glass baby bottles, which don’t leach toxic chemicals, are a time-tested alternative to polycarbonate plastic. Glass bottles are, of course, breakable, and put children at risk of injury in the case of an accident. Additionally, glass can chip or crack when sterilized, which could lead to glass splinters in baby’s beverage. As with plastic, careful and regular inspections of the bottle allow parents to detect any flaws in the glass. Recycle any scratched, cracked, or chipped glass bottle.
#2 HDPE, #4 LDPE and #5 PP Plastics:These opaque bottles are made of either polypropylene or polyethylene, which are not known to leach carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Look on the bottom of the bottle for the recycling symbol: polyethylene has #2 (high-density polyethylene, HDPE) or #4 (low-density polyethylene, LDPE) in the chasing-arrow triangle, and polypropylene (PP) has #5. Polycarbonate bottles are #7 and may be labeled “Other” or “PC.” If the bottle isn’t labeled, call the manufacturer.
PES Plastics: Although polyether sulphone, or PES, hasn’t been studied as thoroughly as #2, #4 and #5 plastics, lab studies have found that it does not leach BPA or phthalates (a hormone-disrupting plasticizer commonly used in #3 PVC plastics). PES plastics may be labeled with a #7 like polycarbonate is, since both plastics fall into the “Other” category. If you see a #7 and aren’t sure if it’s PES or PC, call the manufacturer before using it.
Silicone Nipples: Replace standard rubber nipples (amber-colored) with clear, silicone nipples. Not only are silicone nipples free of cancer-causing nitrosamines, but they last longer.
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Before first use, sterilize bottles in boiling water.
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Inspect bottles and nipples before each use and discard those with cracks or scratches.
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To avoid dangerous hot spots, breast milk or formula should never be heated in the microwave. Stovetop heating can cause glass bottles to burst and plastic ones to melt, especially when supervised by sleep-deprived parents. Instead, place the filled bottle in a bowl of hot water and swirl it periodically.
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To avoid tooth decay and injuries, don’t let baby sleep with or walk around with the bottle.
Usage Tips– TheGreenGuide.Com
March 21st, 2009 — Health
DR 911When I’m Sick the last thing I want to do is throw on sweat pants and traps all the way to my Doctors office, That is if they can fit you in Their busy scheduale. Enter Dr. 911, That is if you live in the Manhatten/ Brooklyn Area. A board-certified emergency physician whose stethoscope has seen many a Lenox Hill patient, will quickly triage the condition and attend to everything from ear infections to migraines to lacerations. No surly secretary, no waiting room. Although with the likes of Devi Kroell, Elie Tahari, and the cast of Gossip Girl on patient rotation, we almost wish there were a waiting room – almost.
Home, office and hotel visits 24 hours a day/
7 days a week
Adult and pediatric care
Immediate assessment and medical treatment
Focused physical exams
Medications prescribed and renewed
Corporate services/wellness
Diagnostic tests
Routine immunizations/screenings
School/camp physicals
Student medical care
Travel medicine
Referrals to specialists
DR 911 was founded by Dr. Robert Glatter in 2007. DR 911’s mission is to provide the highest level of medical care to you and your family, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the comfort of your home, office or hotel. Our personalized service is prompt and always delivered with compassion .
Dr. 911 doesn’t take insurance, but Standard house calls begin at $500 but patients can opt for a subscription-based program in which members pay a yearly fee for all-inclusive services.
For DR 911 services contact 646-761-6685
visit www.dr911md.com.
March 21st, 2009 — Health
Being a Good wife means keeping your family healthy. Below are some great tips by Dr. Oz to make sure your family gets the best health care they deserve. And if God forbid something terrible happened, you would know which hospital to go to and which steps to take when arriving there.
Most patients don’t do a great job of communicating with their doctors, because patients often give too little pertinent information to go on. Remember, just like a detective, doctors are looking for the facts. At the same time, they may also give us too many distracting or off-topic details. The first sign of a smart patient is that telltale document they produce during their first visit or their 50th—it’s their health profile. This is the sign of a patient who means business, one who will challenge us to be at our absolute best and who won’t waste time and money on redundant and unnecessary efforts.
Dr. Oz says there’s a straightforward advantage to staying infection-free in a hospital. “You’re in an environment that has sick people in it who have infections themselves,” he says. “It’s so easy to spread to you.”
- Ask people to wash their hands before touching you.
- Keep hand sanitizer by your bed.
- Try to avoid bacteria-promoting items, like flowers and jewelry.
- Ask doctors to clean their stethoscopes. “Did you ever think where the stethoscope was before he examined you?” Dr. Oz says. “It was on someone else’s chest, and that same bacteria gets carried to you.”
- Clean television remotes.
- Ask a doctor to remove his tie, or else tuck it into his shirt. “How many men here have ever washed their tie?” Dr. Oz says. “Nobody. No one washes a tie. Doctors don’t either.”
To Find a Great Doctor, Ask an ER Nurse
Grill the ER nurse-manager at the best local hospital. A nurse in the intensive-care unit is also a good choice. These registered nurses get a battlefield view of doctors at their best and worst.
Go Board-Certified The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes 24 areas of medical specialty, including anesthesiology, cardiology, internal medicine and pediatrics. Search for board-certified physicians at ABMS.org. To find the best hospital for you—whether it’s a small community hospital, a hospital in your rural area or a large teaching hospital—go for an accredited hospital listed on the Joint Commission’s Quality Check website at JCAHO.org. Joint Commission accreditation is the Gold Seal of Approval for a hospital—and that’s what you want. The Joint Commission also evaluates ambulatory clinics, home health agencies, home medical equipment companies, nursing homes, laboratories, behavioral healthcare facilities and more.
Know Your Hospital’s Numbers
Practice makes perfect. Research has shown that for several common operations, hospitals that perform a specific number or more of that operation every year have better success rates. Your surgeon should be able to give you this info, as should the hospital’s information line.
Have the Surgeon Draw a Picture
Surgery performed on the wrong limb? Or wrong person? Absurd! Unbelievable! Except it really does happen. You know that. You see it in the news more frequently than anyone would like. The Joint Commission requires the surgeon to literally mark the site of your surgery (for example, left elbow, right side of abdomen, wherever appropriate) before the operation. And the docs and nurses will triple-check your identity to make sure that you’re the right patient before they even lift a scalpel.
Get Thee to a Hospital
How are you feeling? Fine? Never better? You need to find a hospital. The perfect time to scout for the best hospital is when you don’t need one. Most people don’t give it a thought until a paramedic is looking them in the eye and asking, “Do you have a preference of which hospital you want to go to?”
Insist on Being Scanned
In the hospital, have staff check your hospital ID bracelet before they give you any medication, take blood or wheel you off for a test. If your hospital uses bar code scanners on ID bracelets, insist they scan you every time.
How Healthy Is Your Health Insurance?
Many of us have few options in picking health insurance, because we’re tied to the plan from our jobs. But when you are lucky enough to have choices, here are some important questions to ask:
- How does the insurer rate with the National Committee on Quality Assurance? Find out at NCQA.org. Also, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners lets you check out individual companies at NAIC.org.
- Which hospitals and doctors are in the plan’s network? Are the hospitals Joint Commission–accredited? If your doctor isn’t in the network, ask your company’s HR department to twist the insurer’s arm to add him or her.
- What will happen if I get cancer, get pregnant or become disabled? These are the biggies that really test insurance.
- What’s the maximum lifetime benefit? It should be at least $5 million.
- At what age will my children be cut off from the plan?
One of the most important decisions you will ever make—and one you’ll likely make more than once —is choosing your doctor. Choose wisely and you could rest easy for many years to come. – Dr. Oz
November 28th, 2008 — Health
Almost every woman at some point in her life was enrolled in a ballet class. Most women took it when they were very little and eventually dropped it. Who hasn’t seen one of those adorable little girl ballet recitals? Some stick with it and become the super thin, amazingly graceful professional ballerinas. Their dance is a joy to watch and every now and then… you wish you could lift your leg over your head like that.
While you may not be able to lift your leg over your head, taking a ballet course can definitely improve your physical fitness. Here’s a look at some of the things ballet will help you to improve.
Flexibility.Ballet is all about extension and just how far can you stretch yourself. With ballet, you’ll stretch muscles you didn’t even know existed. Your legs, arms, back, neck and even your chest (yes your chest!) will all have increased flexibility. Believe it or not, with increased flexibility everything becomes a little more comfortable. You are able to sit in more relaxed positions and all your stretching movement becomes easier. (Imagine reaching for that item on the top shelf.)
Strength.
It takes some serious strength to stand up straight while extending your leg way behind you. Ballet requires some extreme positions. While many of these positions are difficult, they are doable with some practice, even by the novice. With your extra strength comes better muscle tone. Ballet can end up making you look fabulous!
Balance.
It might not look like it but a pirouette requires superior balance. Almost every step in ballet requires excellent balance. All that spinning, lifting, leaping, and twirling takes some serious balance to keep from falling over or tripping. If you’re the quintessential klutz, ballet can help you regain some lost dignity by improving your balance.
Whether you’re looking for an activity for yourself or for your child, ballet offers many potential benefits for both body and mind. It’s a total body workout that requires both discipline and focus but is also quite enjoyable. Plus, ballet is usually taught in a group setting which gives you the opportunity to interact with other dancers. Here are some of the many benefits of ballet:
Ballet benefit: Promotes better postureBallet exercises require the use of good posture and alignment. For this reason, many ballet classes teach postural alignment exercises which help to promote good posture and create awareness of good alignment as you carry out your daily activities.
Ballet benefit: Sculpts and tones your body
The movements taught in ballet classes are designed to tone and firm muscles without developing bulk so you develop long and lean muscles as opposed to thick, bulky ones.
Ballet benefit: Develops poise and body awareness
When you take ballet lessons, you’re taught a series of simple exercises called the barre. These exercises are designed to help build poise and grace which are necessary traits that a successful ballerina must have. These exercises are repeated at each class to help build balance, strength, and poise.
Ballet benefit: Helps to relieve stress
When you perform ballet exercises and movements, it relaxes your mind and removes you from the cares of the world. Your focus shifts to concentrating on each movement and the placement of your legs and arms. Many people report they can actually feel their stress melt away when they focus on ballet.
Ballet benefit: Promotes creative expression
Ballet is not simply a form of exercise, although it does provide many of the health benefits of exercise. It’s also a form of artistic expression. You interpret each dance movement in your own unique way and it becomes your own personal expression. This can be quite therapeutic for both mind and body.
Ballet benefit: Promotes flexibility.
The movements of ballet are quite effective in promoting flexibility. Ballet uses muscles that are seldom used in other sports, giving you a total body flexibility workout.
My Favorite Ballet Class :
The Edge 1020 Cole Avenue, 4th Floor Hollywood, Ca 90038
Begging Ballet with Edouard Kouzmitch 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
