New Sun Protection from a Pill

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Last year, Life Extension® introduced FernBlock®, the revolutionary oral supplement that acts to inhibit the damaging effects of solar radiation. This fern extract was proven to inhibit sun damage by blocking absorption of harmful ultraviolet rays and by quenching DNA-corrupting free radicals. It also diminishes results of excessive UV radiation by favorably altering changes in skin cells that cause premature skin aging.

Sun exposure is not the only cause of accelerated skin aging. Stress releases a wave of hormones like cortisol that can prematurely age skin. The herb ashwagandha reduces cortisol to protect and enhance psychological health. In a recent study, 125 mg of a patented ashwagandha extract taken once daily led to a 14.5% reduction in cortisol levels in 98 individuals. It also resulted in a 13.2% increase in levels of the anti-aging hormone DHEA. Ashwagandha-treated subjects experienced up to 62% reduction in anxiety levels compared with no change in the placebo group.

Enhanced Fernblock® with Sendara™ is formulated with a powerful antioxidant and a natural herb that protects skin from internal damage from emotional stress. Enhanced Fernblock® also contains Phyllanthus emblica, an antioxidant. This extract blocks a chemical reaction that generates skin-damaging free radicals to shield skin from destruction of collagen and other dermal matrix proteins. An in vitro study using a patented extract of both ashwagandha and Phyllanthus emblica demonstrated a 54% inhibition of collagen-degrading enzymes and an 86% inhibition of those that break down hyaluronic acid, the skin’s natural moisturizer.

The unique formulation, Enhanced Fernblock® with Sendara™, is scientifically proven to protect skin from the inside out and should be used to complement topical sunscreens.

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Get Kids Up-To-Date On Vaccines Before They Go Back To School

(NAPSI)-Attention moms and dads! We know your back-to-school season checklist is already full with summer camps, shopping, play dates and maybe another trip to the beach or the lake. However, there's one more thing that you shouldn't forget-the back-to-school wellness checkup!

Even if immunization records are not required for school entry, the summer is a perfect time to schedule your child's annual physical exam. During this checkup, your child will be measured, weighed and checked for overall wellness. Your doctor will also make sure your child is up-to-date on all appropriate vaccines.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes the chickenpox vaccine on its list of recommended vaccines for school-age children. Chickenpox (also called varicella) is a highly contagious disease. The most common symptoms of chickenpox are rash, fever, headache and general discomfort. Although usually mild, chickenpox can sometimes lead to less common but serious complications such as pneumonia.

"Vaccines can be an incredibly valuable tool for maintaining children's health. Between the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine in 1995 and 2003-04, there was an 85 percent decline in chickenpox disease," said Keith S. Reisinger, M.D., MPH, a pediatrician in Pittsburgh, Pa. and medical director of Primary Physicians Research.

VARIVAX® (Varicella Virus Vaccine Live) helps prevent chickenpox in people 12 months of age and older.

Your child should not get VARIVAX if he or she is allergic to any of its ingredients, including gelatin and neomycin; has a weakened immune system, such as an immune deficiency, an inherited immune disorder, leukemia, lymphoma or HIV/AIDS; takes high doses of steroids by mouth or in a shot; has active tuberculosis that is not treated; has a fever; is pregnant or plans to get pregnant within the next three months.

VARIVAX is given as a shot to people who are 12 months old or older. If your child is 12 months to 12 years old and your doctor gives a second dose, the second dose must be given at least 3 months after the first shot.

A second dose should be given to those who first get the vaccine when they are 13 years old or older. This second dose should be given 4 to 8 weeks after the first dose.

Your doctor or health care provider will use the official recommendations to decide the number of shots needed and when to get them.

For a complete 2009 vaccination schedule visit the CDC's Web site at: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm.

Data from a CDC survey showed that less than 20 percent of adolescents 13-17 years of age without a history of disease had received both recommended doses of the chickenpox vaccine.

"The two-dose recommendation was instituted in 2006 to help further reduce outbreaks and provide better individual protection," said Dr. Reisinger. "We've made great strides in increasing immunization rates across the board but we have some work to do with making sure more kids receive both doses of the chickenpox vaccine."

The implementation of a chickenpox vaccination program has significantly reduced the frequency and severity of chickenpox in the U.S. Because it is better to help prevent a disease than to treat it, parents should talk to their child's doctor to make sure appropriate vaccines are received on time.

Important Information About VARIVAX

Your child should not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products for 6 weeks after getting VARIVAX.

VARIVAX may not protect everyone who gets it. VARIVAX does not treat chickenpox once your child has it.

The most common side effects are fever; pain, swelling, itching, or redness at the site of the shot; chicken-pox like rash on the body or at the site of the shot; irritability. Your doctor has a more complete list of side effects for VARIVAX.

Prescribing information and patient product information for VARIVAX are attached, and are also available at www.merckvaccines.com.

This information is sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc.


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Daily physical activity helps lessen the severity of arthritis

(ARA) - More than 46 million people of all ages in the U.S. have arthritis. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that arthritis is the nation’s most common disability.

The same CDC study showed that the number of people who report arthritis as their primary cause of disability has grown by more than 3 million since 1999. What’s more alarming -- with the aging of baby boomers, the prevalence of arthritis is expected to increase 40 percent by the year 2030.

Given the pervasiveness of arthritis, many Americans understand that it is a serious health problem. However, some are unaware that physical activity can actually help lessen the severity of arthritis. In fact, increased daily movement or exercise is one of the best approaches to helping reduce stiff, achy joints caused by arthritis.

“Physical activity, including stretching and strengthening, is crucial to improving joint pain and mobility and reducing fatigue often associated with arthritis,” says Dr. Patience White, chief public health officer for the Arthritis Foundation. “Moving just 30 minutes daily, even 10 to 15 minutes at a time, can reduce the impact of arthritis on a person’s daily activities and help to prevent developing more painful arthritis.”

The Arthritis Foundation has created a program, Let’s Move Together, which is designed to inspire people to move every day to prevent or treat arthritis. Its Web site offers helpful tips for increasing movement, including:

* Take a hike. Walking is one of the easiest, safest and most beneficial forms of exercise. It helps keep your weight in check and strengthens muscles, which reduces pressure on the knees and decreases pain. Walking just fast enough so that you're slightly short of breath is a good pace. The goal is to strengthen the muscles in your legs and around your knees and hips.

* Go for a spin. Stationary cycling strengthens your heart, hips and knees -- with less impact on joints than other forms of cardiovascular exercise, such as running. For those new to stationary cycling, start slowly with a five-minute session at a comfortable pace three times per day.

* Make a splash. Using a combination of soothing warm water and gentle movements helps increase joint flexibility and range of motion. Studies have shown aquatic-based exercise helps to restore and maintain muscle strength, relieve pain and stiffness and provide a community support system for people with arthritis. Those looking to get started can explore the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, which is offered in most major cities.

* Go with the flow. Tai chi is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. Participants in a tai chi program follow a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture flows into the next without pausing. Experts agree that tai chi may improve mobility, breathing and relaxation. Plus, the movements don't require deep bending or squatting, which makes it easier and more comfortable to learn.

“Without regular exercise, muscles become smaller and weaker, and weakness and weight gain from inactivity puts stress on weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and ankles,” says White. “Aerobic walking and other exercise programs can make a significant impact on thwarting arthritis while also improving a person’s overall well-being.”

More information on the benefits of daily movement can be found online at www.letsmovetogether.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Extreme Heat Causes Major Health Problems for Older Adults

FF Note: The July 4th holiday is upon us and we know that all of Fayette County will be out and about in the celebrations. Whether it be the early morning Peachtree City Parade, one of the Let Freedom Ring Ceremonies, the annual Peachtree City Fire Department Exhibition at Drake Field, picnics, or the Peachtree City Fireworks, be sure to stay hydrated and find time to get out of the heat. Have a great weekend, Fayette County!

/PRNewswire/ -- As we prepare for hotter, humid weeks ahead and temperatures reach well over 100 degrees in some parts of the country, older adults are at higher risk of health problems if they don't take the proper precautions to protect themselves from the sweltering heat. About 200 Americans die of health problems caused by high heat and humidity every year, most of them are 50 or older. Due to some of the physical changes that happen as we age, older adults can't cool down as easily as others.

The AGS' Foundation for Health and Aging (FHA) suggests these steps for seniors to help stay safe in the summer months:

-- Use air conditioning in the home or go where it's air-conditioned -- a
shopping mall, grocery store, senior center, movie theatre, museum or
library, for example. (Fans are not effective enough to adequately
cool down the body during intense heat waves.)
-- Drink a lot of water and other clear beverages that don't contain
alcohol or caffeine. A good way to measure if enough fluids are being
ingested is to check urine color. If urine is a light yellow color,
enough water is being taken into the body. If it's darker yellow, the
body needs more water.
-- Take cool showers, baths, or sponge baths.
-- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and hats.

Avoid:

-- Extended periods of sun exposure.
-- Walking long distances, lifting heavy objects, or other strenuous
activities.

Below are the most common health problems caused by heat:

-- Dehydration: Weakness, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion
and passing out.
-- Heat stroke: A body temperature of or above 103 degrees; red, hot and
dry skin; a fast pulse; headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting,
confusion and passing out.
-- Heat exhaustion: Heavy sweating or no sweating, muscle cramps,
tiredness, weakness, paleness, cold or clammy skin, dizziness,
headache, nausea or vomiting and fainting.

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Surgeons Warn: Skateboarding Tough on Feet, Ankles

/PRNewswire/ -- Children and young adults love the thrill of skateboarding. They learn to master their skills of "riding the rail" and "catching air." But according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), such tricks, while fun, can be physically demanding and cause serious foot and ankle injuries.

Foot and ankle surgeons around the country warn they continue to see serious lower-extremity skateboard injuries among their patients. These injuries range from minor bruises to open wounds or cuts to more serious foot and ankle sprains and fractures, which may require surgical repair.

Virginia-based foot and ankle surgeon, Jennifer Purvis, DPM, AACFAS, advises skateboarders to use caution and wear protective gear, including properly supportive shoes, when skateboarding. "Skateboarding can be particularly hard on your feet and ankles because of the impact caused when performing jumps and tricks," Dr. Purvis explains. "Skateboarders should be aware that the strain from repetitive, forceful motions can also cause painful foot and heel conditions such as plantar fasciitis, bone spurs and Achilles tendonitis, which may require more intensive, longer-term therapies," she said.

Even minor cuts or abrasions on your feet can cause serious problems. Dr. Purvis recently treated a 21-year-old skateboarder for scrapes on his feet and ankles that were not healing. Tests indicated he had contracted MRSA - a very serious and sometimes deadly staph infection, which required surgery and four weeks of antibiotic therapy.

Foot and ankle sprains and fractures are common skateboarding injuries. Karl Collins, DPM, FACFAS, who practices in St. Louis, stresses the importance of seeing a foot and ankle surgeon to ensure proper diagnosis and course of treatment for these injuries. Until you can be seen by a doctor, it is best to take a break from activities and use R.I.C.E. therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), which helps to reduce pain and control swelling around the injury.

"A common misconception about foot and ankle fractures is that if you can walk on the foot, there isn't a fracture," Dr. Collins said. "That's not always the case, and only a proper diagnosis can rule out a serious injury requiring an advanced treatment plan."

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Inguinal Hernia: A Treatable Problem

(NAPSI)-What is an inguinal hernia and how do you know if you have one? A bulge on one or both sides of your groin, the area between the belly and thigh; sharp pain, or pressure in the groin; and a burning or aching feeling at the site of the bulge are signs you might have an inguinal hernia.

What You Should Know

An inguinal hernia results when part of the small intestine pushes through a weak area in the lower belly muscles. Symptoms usually appear slowly and inguinal hernias tend to grow larger over time.

What to Do

Talk with your doctor if you think you have an inguinal hernia. The doctor will see if the hernia can be gently massaged back into its proper place in the belly. If not, you might need an operation to repair the hernia to put the hernia back in place.

For More Information

Visit the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website at www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov for more information and free publications about inguinal hernia.

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National Foundation for Transplants Urges Americans To Become Organ Donors

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Foundation for Transplants today re-launched the NFT Transplant Challenge to encourage individuals to register as organ donors.

There are currently 102,073 patients on the national waiting list for an organ transplant, and another name is added to the list every 11 minutes. Because there is a national shortage of registered donors, approximately 18 people die every day while waiting for a transplant.

The NFT Transplant Challenge, which first launched in April 2009 in honor of Donate Life Month, urges individuals to officially register as organ donors through their state donor registry. Studies show that while 90 percent of Americans say they support organ donation, only 35 percent of licensed drivers have taken the steps to become organ donors.

“Recently, national attention has turned toward transplants and the transplant process, and we wanted to use this opportunity to educate the public about this urgent need,” said Jackie D. Hancock Jr., NFT president. “At NFT, we help transplant patients fundraise to cover their expenses, but all the money in the world won’t help if there aren’t enough available organs. We created this challenge to draw attention to this health crisis and encourage people to give the gift of life.”

The goal of the Transplant Challenge is to register 100,000 individuals as organ donors, in honor of the patients waiting on the national list. Additionally, the Challenge hopes to raise $100,000 to assist NFT’s patients with their transplant expenses.

To accept the NFT Transplant Challenge, please visit www.transplants.org and click on the Transplant Challenge logo.

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