We see it so many times, people who face difficult life challenges who don't let their pain take over. Instead, they use their determination to help others. This month, AccentHealth profiles one man who was diagnosed with leukemia, which inspired him to develop a machine, which hopefully, in the future, will be able to help others going through the same thing.
When John Kanzius retired to Sanibel Island, he thought he'd fish and relax, but instead ended up fighting for his life after being diagnosed with leukemia. Kanzius turned to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for treatment. While getting chemotherapy, he found himself haunted by the faces of fellow cancer patients. He tells us, "I saw way too many young people die before their time."
Kanzius started thinking and tinkering. He had worked in radio his whole life. He picked up some transmitters, as well as a few of his wife's pots and pans, and designed a machine to battle cancer. He says, "I wondered if I could make the cancer cells act like little radio receivers … and when they picked up the signal, they would get hot, they would create a fever, and the cancer cell would die."
He showed it to his oncologist, Dr. Michael Keating, of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Department of Leukemia. Keating tells us, "It was an attractive concept, to be able to kill off the cells without invading the patient's body … so that was the power of a good idea."
His doctor then took his patient's invention to a cancer surgeon, who thought of using microscopic metal bits to conduct the heat from the radio waves. Here's how it works: Inject the metal bits, known as nanoparticles, into the tumors and direct radio waves in. The radio waves then heat the metal and destroy the cancer cells. The early results are promising.
Dr. Steven Curley, a Surgical Oncologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, explains, "If we can target these nanoparticles to get into the cancer cells and then do this treatment, there won't be a lot of the side effects that people usually associate with chemotherapy drugs."
Doctors hope the machine will eventually be used to fight all types of cancers, including breast cancer and liver cancer, though human trials are still three to four years away. While the inventor is still fighting leukemia, he hopes his discovery will make a difference. Kanzius says, "We need to treat people's cancers in a more humane way. If nothing else, I hope I have changed the prevailing thinking of the medical world."
Another amazing aspect to this story: Kanzius has leukemia, or cancer of the blood or bone marrow. This type of cancer is much more fluid, flowing throughout his entire body. The treatment that he developed is actually so targeted, zeroing in directly on the cancer cells, that it would be more difficult to use it for his type of cancer. He says, however, that he never invented the machine for himself. He just wanted to help people that he saw who were suffering. One man and his machine, trying to change the world.
http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200803/
Machine to Cure Cancer
Heart Health
A drive-thru is a common way to pick up a quick lunch. Could drive-thru angioplasty be just around the corner? February is American Heart Month, and it's a good opportunity to look at some of the latest research and medical breakthroughs in heart health.
Drive-Thru Angioplasty
A couple of nights in the hospital after a heart procedure …that sounds pretty normal. But what if you could go home the very same day? Canadian researchers are perfecting a shortcut for angioplasty that could have you saying "Home Sweet Home" a lot sooner.
When performing an angioplasty, doctors generally thread a catheter through the femoral artery—that's near the groin—up to the heart. Then they inflate a small balloon inside a blood vessel to unclog it. After such an invasive procedure, an overnight stay is required, meaning additional costs and, sometimes, unwanted anxiety.
In the so-called drive-thru angioplasty, the catheter goes into the wrist artery. Patients take a drug to curtail any bleeding and usually go home within four to six hours. Dr. Nieca Goldberg from the American Heart Association tells us, "The sooner we can get our heart patients back into the comfort of their own home and their community, we can start to act on the risk factors that actually caused them to have the procedure." A new study finds that the shorter procedure also causes less bleeding, and it's just as safe as the traditional method.
The Gender Gap in Heart Health
There's another tradition that cardiologists are trying to put behind us: the gender gap. Dr. Goldberg explains, "For a long time, I guess the last 21 years, more women have died of heart disease than men. Yet, when I went to medical school, we were taught that heart disease was largely a man's disease."
A new study adds to mounting evidence that female heart patients are under-diagnosed and under-treated for heart disease. Kaiser Permanente researchers found that, although women with high cholesterol levels benefit as much from lipid-lowering statin drugs as men, they are prescribed for only 58% of women who need them, compared to 67% of men. The keys to narrowing the gap: Women should begin thinking about heart health early in their twenties and continue to have it assessed throughout their lives. Doctors should look for symptoms associated with women's cardiac problems like shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, and lower chest discomfort. Doctors should also recognize that women are as much at risk as men.
Regeneration of Heart Tissue
From the cutting edge of heart research comes the promise of regeneration. Scientists are developing methods to strengthen damaged heart tissue with infusions of the patient's own bone marrow cells, which act like stem cells. Initial studies show heart attack survivors nearly doubled their pumping ability. Researchers say it will be several years before the technique can be used in the fight against heart disease.
Heart Health for Children
The fight against heart disease should really begin in childhood. High blood pressure, which can be a symptom of heart disease, can affect children as well as adults. The American Heart Association recommends all children ages three and older get yearly blood pressure check-ups. Educating your children about heart healthy habits like exercise and good nutrition can be the key to preventing cardiovascular problems in the future.
New CPR Guidelines
The American Heart Association has also recently changed its CPR guidelines. Before, the recommendation was fifteen compressions for every two rescue breaths. The new recommendation doubles the compressions to 30 for every two rescue breaths.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200602/
Preventing and Treating Kidney Stones
Ten percent of Americans will experience the pain of a kidney stone at some point in their lives—and kidney stones are more common in men, accounting for about four out of five cases. If you've suffered from a kidney stone, you know that there is not much that can rival the pain, but treatment is available for people with kidney stones, and you may even be able to prevent some of them.
When 21-year-old Richard Decoudo suffered from a kidney stone, he says it felt like someone was stabbing him in the stomach. "I couldn't move … that's how bad it was. All I could do was lay down and curl up and just yell."
In addition to the severe pain, kidney stones can cause blood in the urine, chills, vomiting, and fever. It's the most common disorder of the urinary tract and mostly affects men between the ages of 20 and 40. Dr. Karim Hamawy, a urologist at Lahey Clinic, explains, "What stones are … are usually crystals that come together in urine in a variety of scenarios. Usually, the situation is a scenario where there is lack of fluid."
There are four types of kidney stones:
* Calcium
* Struvite
* Uric Acid
* Cystine
In this country, the most common are calcium stones. According to Dr. Hamawy, "There have been a lot of studies looking at what is the causative factor for calcium stones … and when you look at all of those studies, the biggest factor is lack of fluid."
Those prone to kidney stones are encouraged to drink up—12-16 cups of water a day. The old advice to avoid foods that contain calcium no longer applies. The recommendation nowadays is that one needs a certain amount of calcium in one's diet to prevent other types of stones from forming.
Your doctor may tell you to cut back on salt if you have kidney stones. That's because a high salt intake can increase the amount of calcium in your urine, which can form some kinds of stones.
There are some foods that some kidney stone patients should limit, such as:
* Beer
* Tea
* Cocoa
* Chocolate
* Nuts
* Spinach
* Berries
As in Richard's case, most stones pass on their own, but treatment sometimes involves minimally invasive surgery or lithotripsy, which uses high energy shock waves to break stones down. Dr. Hamawy says, "Nowadays, the lithotriptors are smaller, more compact. They either use conventional plain x-ray, called fluoroscopy, or ultrasound depending on the type of stone that needs to be visualized … and patients can be done under intravenous sedation. So they are awake for the procedure, they are relatively comfortable, and can go home the same day very quickly without some of the side effects of general anesthesia."
Richard hopes to avoid the excruciating pain of another kidney stones, so he's following his doctor's advice—modifying his diet and drinking plenty of water—and he's telling his story so that others may be able to avoid the pain of kidney stones, as well.
For more information about kidney stones, contact the National Kidney Foundation.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200503/
Women Have Different Warning Signs for Heart Disease than Men Do
This month, we are celebrating AccentHealth's 100th show and what we hope have been one hundred shows full of useful health information for you. One topic we have talked a lot about on the show is heart disease. February is American Heart Month—and heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, but many women don't realize that the symptoms of heart disease differ between the sexes.
June Dobbs Butts exercises at least five times a week, eats healthfully, and sees her doctor on a regular basis, but less than a year ago, she was gravely ill. She says she was always exhausted, had a terrible sore throat that she couldn't shake, would wake up at night coughing and feeling nauseous, and feared for her life because she couldn't breath. After multiple visits to the emergency room and to her internist showed nothing seemed to be wrong, June went for an echocardiogram—and she was shocked by what she found out.
Her doctor, Dr. Laurence Sperling, an Atlanta cardiologist, told her that she had four arteries that were blocked—two at 80% and two at 90%. Even more startling, June had suffered a heart attack and she didn't even know it. According to Dr. Sperling, "In women, it appears that they often don't have the classic or typical symptoms that most doctors are looking for when it comes to a heart attack or angina, which is chest discomfort from the heart."
The common symptoms of a heart attack for men include chest pains, but only 30% of women have that same warning sign. For many women, symptoms can be much different and often times go unnoticed. In a study published in the American Heart Association's Journal Circulation, researchers found unusual fatigue or trouble sleeping were two of the most common warning signs in women that they were about to have a heart attack. According to the study, 95% of the women reported those early warning signs more than a month before having a heart attack.
The most common early warning signs for women are:
* Unusual fatigue
* Sleep disturbance
* Shortness of breath
* Indigestion
* Anxiety
When experiencing a heart attack, the women reported acute symptoms of:
* Shortness of breath
* Weakness
* Unusual fatigue
* Cold sweats
* Dizziness
Dr. Sperling cautions that sometimes with women, those signs can be misread. "How do you know if you're a little short of breath… does that mean that you're going to have a heart attack in a month or that you're just out of shape? Or if you are tired… is it just because you have three kids and you're driving them all around town and you stayed up until two in the morning?"
Health experts say that if you don't feel like your usual self, or even your usual self at some level of fatigue, you need to talk with your doctor immediately. Dr. Sperling adds, "We need to do a better job of teaching our future doctors that patients come to the office with symptoms that often are very different from what you read in a textbook or hear in your lecture."
After heart bypass surgery, June is doing remarkably well. She says that she feels younger, happier, and so much more interested in life.
For more information on heart disease and what you can do to prevent it, talk to your health care provider. You can also log onto the American Heart Association's web site.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200402a/
Infant Immunization
Most parents understand the need for immunization shots, but they can be traumatizing to the child and agonizing to the parents seeing their little one crying. Now doctors are introducing a new combination vaccine that reduces the number of shots a child receives during the first two years of life.
The typical vaccination schedule consists of about 20 shots at various intervals before the age of two. As doctors develop the ability to prevent more dangerous diseases in childhood, the number of injections rises.
According to Dr. Mark Weissman of Children's National Medical Center, doctors are looking for new ways to provide the needed protection with less wear and tear for babies and parents.
The FDA approved one of those new combinations, Pedia-Rex, in December, 2002. It combines the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccines with the vaccines for polio and hepatitis B. Those 20 shots are reduced to about thirteen, but children still must get shots at two months, four months, and six months. Side effects are mild, with a slightly higher rate of low-grade fevers among those who receive the combined shot.
Experts are confident these combination shots are just as strong, and more of these combination vaccines are coming.
So, when can you expect to see these combination vaccines?
Doctors are using up their existing stocks of single shots and then will switch to the new vaccines. These new combination vaccines are being shipped now, and should be available soon. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/immunize/
Smoking Facts and Tips to Quit
Tips to Help You Quit Smoking for Good
Smokers are three times more likely to die of heart disease. Smoking damages the cardiovascular system, causes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and 90% of all lung cancers among smokers in the U.S.
Consider the other risks: cancers of the esophagus, mouth, throat, the kidneys, bladder, and pancreas. Toxins from cigarettes go everywhere the blood flows.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in this country. It kills more than 400,000 Americans every year—and that's more than AIDS, alcohol, automobile accidents, illicit drugs, homicides, suicides, all combined.
On average, it can take smokers three to six attempts to quit. The CDC suggests five steps:
* Get ready
* Get support
* Learn new skills and behaviors
* Get medication and use it correctly
* Be prepared for difficult situations
Second-Hand Smoke
Beyond consideration of your own health, second-hand smoke can be very dangerous for your family, friends, and co-workers. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency includes second-hand smoke among "Group A" carcinogens. That means there is sufficient evidence to conclude that it causes cancer in humans. Children are especially vulnerable to second-hand smoke. Exposure to smoke as a child can slow the development of lung function, and children of parents who smoke have more problems with respiratory symptoms and infections than children of non-smokers. Second-hand smoke is responsible for nearly two million doctor visits a year for coughs in children and an additional 529,000 for asthma. So keeping your home smoke-free is a great gift you can give your child.
To learn more about the facts about smoking and cancer, contact the American Cancer Society through its web site or at (800) ACS-2345.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/quitsmoking/
Comfort Foods
If something about these cold days makes you want to curl up with a big bowl of mashed potatoes, you're not alone. Comfort foods are often on our list when the weather turns cool, and they can be good for you if they are prepared correctly. This month, AccentHealth takes a look at how to make nutritious choices.
It may be chilly outside, so a steamy bowl of soup may be just what your body is craving. According to registered dietician Julie Schwartz, "In the fall and winter, when it's getting cold outside, we want heartier foods and foods that are going to keep us warm." She cautions that certain comfort foods are high in fat, calories, and sodium. She explains, "Foods such as mashed potatoes, which is just a classic comfort food, can be made in a very healthful manner. You can cook the potatoes in chicken broth … and then you add that broth back in as the moisture for the potatoes … and they're very, very tasty."
Schwartz recommends making your own soup and stews and watching the salt. Homemade breads can also be very hearty and healthy. She says, "Using half whole-wheat flour and half regular flour is a way to make it a healthier end product without a big change in texture or taste."
She reminds everyone to be sure to watch how much food you put on your plate. Schwartz tells us, "It's about having three to four ounces of pot roast, not eight to twelve ounces of pot roast."
Good tips for warming up without packing on the pounds.
What are your comfort foods? Is it something like a candy bar or is it something like a steak dinner? Researchers at the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University did a survey and found that women prefer snack-related comfort foods like candy and chocolate, while men prefer something that is more meal-related like pizza, pasta, steak, or a casserole.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200901/
Mirror Therapy For Amputees
Since the start of the war, more than 750 soldiers have returned home from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq as amputees. Walter Reed Army Medical Center has treated many of them. On any given day, 100 to 125 amputees are there, working to rebuild their lives. Most, a staggering 95%, suffer a type of excruciating pain that even pain medicine alone can't relieve, but one doctor has found a simple way to help them.
When Sergeant Nick Paupore's convoy was hit by a roadside bomb, Paupore lost his entire right leg. His whole life changed. The worst part was the pain. Sergeant Paupore tells us, "All of a sudden, it was just like someone kept turning on and off a taser and my whole leg started twitching and I sat up and I was holding on to my stump and it just wouldn't stop."
What he was feeling is phantom limb pain. , Navy Commander Dr. Jack Tsao at the Uniformed Services University, explains, "It's the sensation that the limb is still present … and phantom pain in particular is the sensation that the limb is experiencing pain of some form."
When it comes to war, traumatic amputation is nothing new, nor is phantom pain. The problem is that almost nothing works—not drugs, not therapy—and the pain is awful. Dr. Tsao says that 95% of the people who lose a limb have phantom pain. When asked if the source of the pain were nerves that were once present and are now cut in half, Dr. Tsao said, "There are a lot of different theories about where phantom pain is generated from. The thinking now is that it must be generated somehow in the brain in terms of how the brain interprets the signals from the pain pathways that are left."
So how do you trick the mind into believing the leg is still there? It's remarkably simple: a mirror can make it appear to Paupore as if he still has two legs, and that's exactly what the doctors want his brain to see. It's called mirror therapy, and Paupore started with fifteen minutes a day, four to five days a week. Within five months, he was pain-free. Dr. Tsao tells us that he was astounded by how well the therapy worked.
What the mirror actually does is to coordinate what the patient sees visually with what's known as "position." According to Dr. Tsao's study, coordinating these two things really helps to get rid of the phantom pain. This coordination makes it seem to the patient as if his amputated limb is still there.
Once a skeptic, Paupore is now a true believer. The mirror therapy has helped him reflect on all that's happening and perhaps given him a more positive view of how he'll deal with his future.
At Walter Reed, mirror therapy is now offered routinely to patients. Dr. Tsao says that this therapy has the potential to benefit amputees worldwide and the best part is that no special training is required to do it. It even gives interested parties instruction over-the-phone or via e-mail. It is already helping the country of Cambodia set up a similar program because of its large and growing amputee population due to abandoned land mines.
http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200808/
Skin Cancer Prevention
Too much exposure to the sun, family history, and moles are all contributing factors in developing melanoma. Fair skin is also a high risk factor, but darker skin isn't immune to skin cancer. As a matter of fact, the American Cancer Society says melanoma cases are actually rising in African American, Asian, and Latin communities.
One year ago, 44-year-old Elmer McNeal sought treatment for a rash on his foot, but he soon found out that he had a much bigger problem: a mole there that turned out to be skin cancer. He says, "She didn't sugarcoat it. She told me it was a deadly form of melanoma and it needed to be addressed right away. It was something that was life-threatening and, within a year, could be potentially fatal."
Melanoma is on the rise in this country. According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 60,000 new cases each year. Nearly 8,000 Americans die annually of the disease—almost one every hour. The disease is more prevalent in whites, but it is increasing in people of color, and for them, it's often more deadly. According to Dr. Paula Bourelly, a dermatologist at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., "You need to be looking in areas that don't necessarily get the sun … for example the palms, the soles, in between your fingers, in between your toes, and in your nails … because those are the types of melanomas that can be the most deadly, and they're the ones that most commonly affect people of color."
Experts say genetics and family history most likely play a large role for people of color, but they still say they need to be concerned about the amount of sun they're getting. Dr. Bourelly explains, "I don't want to lull people into a false sense of security to where they say, 'Since the sun is not going to be my issue because I have brown skin, I don't have to worry about protecting myself … I don't have to worry about wearing sunscreen.'"
Whether it is exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays or genetics that is pulling the trigger, melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and doctors say early detection is key regardless of skin color. So if you have a mole that changes color, shape, or texture, see your doctor because melanoma is almost always curable in its early stages. But once it spreads, the prognosis is poor.
As the weather gets warmer, it's a good time to think about sun protection. The American Cancer Society recommends that you use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF factor of 15 or higher—and that means every day, not just when you head off to the beach. Also wear long sleeves and a hat when you can, and don't forget about your eyes. Look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of all UV light. Some manufacturers' labels say "UV absorption up to 400nm." This is the same thing as 100% UV absorption.
For more information about skin or sun protection, you can talk to your doctor or contact the American Cancer Society.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200704/
Choosing Organic
There is a lot of buzz these days about organic foods. There's a whole new vocabulary as well, including terms like "free range" or "wild caught." If you do decide to start including more organic products in your family's diet, you may find that your grocery bills are a little bit higher. This month, AccentHealth gets some advice on how to decipher that organic lingo and how to make the most of your money when it comes to buying organic.
If you look through any store, you can find "organic" anything … organic grapefruit, organic kiwi, grapes, mangoes … it's everywhere … but at the end of the day, which organic products are the best options on which to spend your money? Urvashi Rangan of Consumer Reports tells us, "People don't have unlimited amounts of money to spend, and there's often as much as a 50% premium associated with organic foods. Some vegetables and fruits contain higher levels of pesticides and residues than others, so if you want to get the most value for your organic buck, buying organic versions of those can be best. Apples and peaches, for example, have been shown to have very high pesticide residue levels, so those are great examples of fruits that you might want to choose organic."
Urvashi also explains what organic means when it comes to meat. "Organic meat production is very significant in terms of value added. The animals don't eat animal by-products. They don't receive antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones, or steroids. They eat all-organic diets from vegetables that were grown organically. There really is a lot of value to buying organic meats."
People are very concerned about the safety of their seafood. Urvashi tells us, "I think that a lot of people are looking for more natural seafood. Here are the key labels when you're trying to decipher that … 'wild caught' means that a particular seafood was fished from the ocean, whereas 'farm raised' means that it was generally raised in a fish farm."
Urvashi tells us that it is critically important to buy organic when you're buying baby food. She says, "Scientific studies have shown that children who eat fruits and vegetables that are organic and who drink organic juice actually have less pesticides floating in their bodies than kids who don't." Although parents may worry that they are paying more for each and every jar that they buy, Urvashi explains, "It is true that organic can often carry a hefty premium but if you shop around, especially for baby food items, sometimes you only spend a few more cents on the dollar for every jar of baby food."
If you're overwhelmed by all of the options and label reading, remember that you don't have to change everything you eat. One pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, the author of Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care, suggests some easy ways to increase the amount of organic food in your children's diet and your own diet with just a few changes to what you buy. His top picks include milk, potatoes, peanut butter, baby food, and ketchup.
From: http://www.accenthealth.com/features/200802/
10 Essential Health Tips
10 Essential Health Tips (The Basics to Practice Every Day)
1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!
2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!
3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.
4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.
5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.
6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.
7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.
8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.
9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.
10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.
From: http://www.health-fitness-tips.com/features/10-essential-health-tips.htm
