That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com/media/feedlogo.gif That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Infant Rotavirus vaccine declared safe by FDAhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/16/infant-vaccine-declared-safe-by-fda/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/16/infant-vaccine-declared-safe-by-fda/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/16/infant-vaccine-declared-safe-by-fda/#commentsFiled under:

A vaccine made for infants that prevents severe diarrhea has been declared safe for use by the FDA.

The vaccine, made by pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline, has been considered possibly dangerous since the British drugmaker supposedly did not follow U.S. safety regulations when testing the vaccine called Rotarix.

The rotavirus can cause bad diarrhea in infants, and Rotarix was the first vaccine to be approved in the U.S. to help ward off the virus.

RotaShield, a similar product made by Wyeth, was pulled from the market in 1999 due to causing an increase in twisting of the intestines in some subjects.

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]]>diarhheafdavaccineBrian WhiteSat, 16 Feb 2008 07:45:00 ESTUSDA Organic label becoming worthless?http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/04/usda-organic-label-becoming-worthless/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/04/usda-organic-label-becoming-worthless/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/04/usda-organic-label-becoming-worthless/#commentsFiled under:

Is the term" Organic" becoming diluted or meaningless? I'm not sure I would go that far, but seeing the USDA's Organic seal on a food package or other food items shouldn't give your mind an automatic pass as "perfectly nutrition-filled organic food" is being presented anything like that.

Like all symbols, the USDA Organic graphic on anything is a useful guide, but not a black-white, yes-no statement to eating an all-organic diet. First off, the seal is not "free" to use. Second, look at the standards behind that symbol and see what you think. Impressed? I wasn't.

Since when does the USDA become the authority on what is labeled as "Organic?" Mostly because consumers want a quick and convenient way to determine if foods they buy conform to some semblance of being produced organically. Life takes more research than this -- always has. In case many of us have not realized, the world is gray -- not black and white.

Give this excellent blog entry and read, do some further reading and judge for yourself -- are you really too trusting when it comes to products labeled as "Organic?"

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]]>organic labelOrganicLabelUSDA organicUsdaOrganicBrian WhiteMon, 04 Feb 2008 11:16:00 ESTMany cancer doctors suggest same treatment they would face themselveshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/many-cancer-doctors-suggest-same-treatment-they-would-face-thems/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/many-cancer-doctors-suggest-same-treatment-they-would-face-thems/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/many-cancer-doctors-suggest-same-treatment-they-would-face-thems/#commentsFiled under:

One central question you can always ask your doctor when you're being seen for a serious medical condition is this: if you were me, what treatment would you suggest?

If that kind of question doesn't get the best answer from your doctor -- regardless of "repair shop" drugs and mainstream ideas -- nothing will. The thing is this: many of those doctors will give you invaluable information if you behave like the perfectly-informed patient that we should all strive to be.

A study of oncologists found that nearly 75 percent of them would recommend a course of cancer therapy that themselves would undergo if cancer was a condition he or she had. The study revealed that 70 percent of colon cancer doctors would flat-out answer the question, while 20 percent would answer when pressed more by the patient.

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]]>cancer doctorscancer treatmentCancerDoctorsCancerTreatmentoncologistsBrian WhiteTue, 29 Jan 2008 19:33:00 ESTMiddle age is a truly depressing time, says studyhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/middle-age-is-a-truly-depressing-time-says-study/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/middle-age-is-a-truly-depressing-time-says-study/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/middle-age-is-a-truly-depressing-time-says-study/#commentsFiled under: ,

New research from British and U.S. experts concluded that middle age can be very depressing to much of the world's population. 80 countries and over two million people were involved in the research, which showed that depression is very common for both women and men in their 40s.

The "U-curve" was explained by the researchers like this: we are happy when born and into our career years, are depressed and unhappy in those middle years, then return to a happy state in those golden years.

Although it's hardly possible, the ride of life can be enjoyed at every age with the right frame of mind. But, if you're in your 40s, what makes this the most unhappy time of your life? A sagging waistline and a possible career crisis? Sound off in comments below.

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]]>40sdepressionmiddle agemiddle aged depressionMiddleAgeMiddleAgedDepressionBrian WhiteTue, 29 Jan 2008 18:32:00 ESTDieter's paradox: best to be skinny when exercisinghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/dieters-paradox-best-to-be-skinny-when-exercising/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/dieters-paradox-best-to-be-skinny-when-exercising/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/dieters-paradox-best-to-be-skinny-when-exercising/#commentsFiled under:

The dieter's paradox is known as this: being skinny and having a positive view of your physical body can motivate you more to exercise and maintain that physique.

But, to get there, you have to torture yourself losing weight and exercising to get to a point where you're happy with what you look like. The long-term view is what many dieters forget. Transformation does not happen overnight, even in the instant gratification society we live in.

In a recent rat study, this phenomenon was studied and confirmed. Why do so many people fail at dieting? Because they are not skinny to begin with -- and there's the paradox. You have to look past that fact and to the day when you are skinny enough.

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]]>dietingskinnyweight lossWeightLossBrian WhiteTue, 29 Jan 2008 17:31:00 ESTDon't just suddenly stop taking an antidepressanthttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/dont-just-suddenly-stop-taking-an-antidepressant/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/dont-just-suddenly-stop-taking-an-antidepressant/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/dont-just-suddenly-stop-taking-an-antidepressant/#commentsFiled under: ,

To those that are currently taking antidepressants -- but have been paying attention to the news recently -- you may want to talk to your doctor first.

Stopping antidepressant medications abruptly may lead to a whole host of potential problems deemed the antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Among the symptoms could be:
  • Anxiety.
  • Feelings of depression or sadness
  • Moodiness and irritability
  • Tiredness
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
Lowering your dose or finding out about alternative antidepressant treatments may be something you want to talk to your doctor about before quitting that daily prescription cold turkey

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]]>antidepressant drugsAntidepressantDrugsantidepressantsBrian WhiteTue, 29 Jan 2008 16:29:00 ESTFlu vaccine may one day be shot-free for kidshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/flu-vaccine-may-one-day-be-shot-free-for-kids/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/flu-vaccine-may-one-day-be-shot-free-for-kids/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/flu-vaccine-may-one-day-be-shot-free-for-kids/#commentsFiled under:

Many a child has been temporarily traumatized by the sight of a shot when vaccine time arrives, and although products like FluMist are safe for adults, kids are still subject to those flu shots when the time comes.

A better, under-the-tongue alternative may be coming your way soon, though. Korean research on mice has determined that a flu vaccine administered under the tongue worked great without the need for a needle prick (and accompanying emotional torture for many kids).

Will most vaccines be delivered without breaking the skin in the near future? It seems that there are always drawbacks to non-shot vaccines, but anything in medicine should be possible now that the human genome has been decoded.

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]]>doctor's office shotDoctor'sOfficeShotflu shotsflumistFluShotsunder the tongueUnderTheTonguevaccine shotVaccineShotBrian WhiteTue, 29 Jan 2008 15:01:00 ESTPediatrician's group concerned about new ABC showhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/pediatricians-group-concerned-about-new-abc-show/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/pediatricians-group-concerned-about-new-abc-show/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/29/pediatricians-group-concerned-about-new-abc-show/#commentsFiled under:

The new ABC show "Eli Stone" us under fire from the largest Pediatrician's group in the U.S. due to its portrayal of autism possibly being caused by childhood vaccines.

The autism-vaccine debate continues to rage on in the media these days, and the arguments for and against the connection are as fierce as anything in the medical community's modern history.

The drama, set to debut this Thursday, follows a lawyer who wins a case for the family of an autistic child due to an executive at the vaccine maker not allowing his own child to receive the vaccine in question.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has taken a sharp view of the show and has stated "A television show that perpetuates the myth that vaccines cause autism is the height of reckless irresponsibility on the part of ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co."

And the autism-vaccine debate rages on.

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]]>autismautism causesAutismCausesPediatriciansvaccinesBrian WhiteTue, 29 Jan 2008 13:27:00 ESTMarried couples who fight live longerhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/married-couples-who-fight-live-longer/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/married-couples-who-fight-live-longer/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/married-couples-who-fight-live-longer/#commentsFiled under: ,

Don't keep all those emotions and feelings bottled up! We've all heard this from the mental health community, and married couples are now hearing it again.

In fact, those married couples who express anger regularly may even outlive those that don't, according to a new study out of the University of Michigan. In other words, express and don't suppress.

Getting anger out into the open and resolving it was found to be much more healthy than bottling up anger and failing to provide any resolution at all. Dr. Ernest Harburg went on to say "If you bury your anger, and you brood on it ... and you don't try to resolve the problem, then you're in trouble."

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]]>couple fightingCoupleFightingfightingmarriagestressful marriageStressfulMarriageBrian WhiteMon, 28 Jan 2008 20:43:00 ESTCalifornia's universal health care plan losing support fasthttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/californias-universal-health-care-plan-losing-support-fast/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/californias-universal-health-care-plan-losing-support-fast/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/californias-universal-health-care-plan-losing-support-fast/#commentsFiled under: ,

A huge health care bill up before the California legislature may be seeing a permanent dirt nap soon, leaving that state to end up not setting a precedent for health care coverage to millions of uninsured people.

Many Senators are reportedly on the ropes on voting no to the legislation that would provide health insurance to all Californians through private or public means. The state's large population makes the current health care insurance battle a sight to watch from all other states, apparently.

Health care is shaping up to be one of the hot-button issues in this year's U.S. Presidential election, and the timing of the California proposal will keep the issue of medical coverage for the uninsured fresh in the minds of millions.

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]]>arnold schwarzeneggerArnoldSchwarzeneggercaliforniacalifornia health careCaliforniaHealthCareBrian WhiteMon, 28 Jan 2008 19:29:00 ESTNew parents may be more receptive to genetic testinghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/new-parents-may-be-more-receptive-to-genetic-testing/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/new-parents-may-be-more-receptive-to-genetic-testing/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/new-parents-may-be-more-receptive-to-genetic-testing/#commentsFiled under:

A new study has found that many parents support the testing of kids that may expose genetic predispositions to breast and ovarian cancer -- even though many medical groups are unconvinced.

Early detection of genetic predispositions may have the capability to significantly alter the health of millions. After all, would you change your lifestyle if you did find out that you were apt to developing breast cancer in your 40s or 50s?

When medical science reverses its stance as a treatment workshop and into a preventative care workshop, every patient will have the upper hand. Speaking the truth about all the items that are unfit for human health would be a great first start.the absence of medical benefit.

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]]>genetic disease testgenetic testsGeneticDiseaseTestGeneticTestsnew parentsnewbornsNewParentsBrian WhiteMon, 28 Jan 2008 18:28:00 ESTBlood pressure affected by genetic makeuphttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/blood-pressure-affected-by-genetic-makeup/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/blood-pressure-affected-by-genetic-makeup/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/blood-pressure-affected-by-genetic-makeup/#commentsFiled under:

In today's genetic news, medical experts are now saying that personal genetic makeup can affect how a person reacts to blood pressure medications. If you're on generic hypertension medication, this news may be of significance to you.

Custom treatments for certain conditions based on one's genetic state will only become a larger industry from here. the history of current medication (until recently) has been blanket treatments for anyone diagnosed with certain illnesses or conditions. Is that philosophy changing? You bet.

But, of course, hard medical data and studies have a long road to confirm whether customized treatments based on genetic factors will continue seeing the light of day and even become mainstream medical practice.

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]]>blood pressureBloodPressuregenetic makeupGeneticMakeupgeneticshypertensionBrian WhiteMon, 28 Jan 2008 16:32:00 ESTHeart disease and stroke deaths see decline since 1999http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/heart-disease-and-stroke-deaths-see-decline-since-1999/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/heart-disease-and-stroke-deaths-see-decline-since-1999/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/heart-disease-and-stroke-deaths-see-decline-since-1999/#commentsFiled under:

According to a recent compilation of data by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease and stroke deaths in the U.S. actually went down 25 percent from 1999 to 2005.

When first hearing this, it's hard to believe. From my subjective experience, American adults became heavier and more unhealthy in that time period, which should have increased death rates from those conditions. Never underestimate medical technology, though.

In the year 2005, that drop accounts for about 160,000 fewer deaths in the U.S. The only problem is that American Heart Association President Dr. Dan Jones does not think the decline will last.

Dr. Jones said "I don't think we should assume continued progress ... in some areas, there has been little or no progress. For example, if you look at child obesity and the increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease that will come from that -- well, unless we get that under control we will see a leveling off or worsening of heart disease and stroke death rates in days to come."

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]]>heart attack declinesheart diseaseHeartAttackDeclinesHeartDiseasestrokestroke declinesStrokeDeclinesBrian WhiteMon, 28 Jan 2008 15:01:00 ESTMammograms being skipped by some due to small copayshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/mammograms-being-skipped-by-some-due-to-small-copays/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/mammograms-being-skipped-by-some-due-to-small-copays/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/28/mammograms-being-skipped-by-some-due-to-small-copays/#commentsFiled under:

It's unfortunate that the small medical insurance copay cost of a mammogram is causing some women to forgo it. According to a recent study of Medicare customers, though, this is what is happening in many cases.

The $10 amount was the smallest amount found that would cause a woman (an older woman in most cases) to avoid the potentially life-saving test.

In the study, the mammogram screening rate was about eight percent lower when there was any type of customer payment involved when compared to those women having the test who have the entire cost provided for through full coverage insurance.

If you're 40 and have never had a mammogram, what's holding you back? For your health's sake, hopefully it's not a small, out-of-pocket expense.

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]]>breast checkBreastCheckinsurance copaysInsuranceCopaysmammogrammammogramsmedical co-paysMedicalCo-paysBrian WhiteMon, 28 Jan 2008 13:53:00 ESTTransplant breakthrough announced by doctorshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/transplant-breakthrough-announced-by-doctors/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/transplant-breakthrough-announced-by-doctors/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/transplant-breakthrough-announced-by-doctors/#commentsFiled under:

Those who have had organ transplants know that the regimen of anti-rejection drugs being part of the procedure's lifelong therapy. But, according to research out of Massachusetts, the days of needing to take anti-rejection drugs daily for a patient's entire life could seen be a distant memory.

The new process involved the weakening of the patient's immune system and then giving the organ recipient bone marrow from the organ donor.

In a sense, it's tricking the body into accepting the new organ using non-transplant material. To those organ recipients hopeful for getting off anti-rejection drugs forever, this is going to be seen as very good news.

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]]>medical breakthroughMedicalBreakthroughorgan transplantOrganTransplanttransplantBrian WhiteThu, 24 Jan 2008 18:00:00 ESTCan obesity surgery 'cure' diabetes?http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/can-obesity-surgery-cure-diabetes/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/can-obesity-surgery-cure-diabetes/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/can-obesity-surgery-cure-diabetes/#commentsFiled under:

We've heard before that obesity is a main cause for the development and onset of diabetes. But, could obesity surgery be the cause for many diabetes cases? Seems logical, although curing obesity with surgery should be a last resort in my humble opinion. Whatever happened to working hard to lose all that extra weight?

Now, I do know it's near impossible for some to work out regularly to try and lose wight, but near anyone can change diet choices to really start dropping the pounds. Do you agree, or is surgery a quick and easy solution to ridding oneself of obesity?

Research from Australia determined that those who were obese but were subjected to obesity surgery were five times more likely to have diabetes go away over the course of two years after the surgery compared to those who only went through standard diabetes care. Well, when the stomach and other organs are physically altered to curb hunger and food cravings, I can see this being a solution that works. Is it the best solution, though?

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]]>diabetesobesitystomach staplingStomachStaplingsurgerytummy tuckTummyTuckBrian WhiteThu, 24 Jan 2008 16:25:00 ESTU.S. adults skipping important vaccinationshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/u-s-adults-skipping-important-vaccinations/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/u-s-adults-skipping-important-vaccinations/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/24/u-s-adults-skipping-important-vaccinations/#commentsAlthough the media constantly covers vaccinations for kids, it's been a long time since I read that adults weren't rolling up their sleeves to ensure they were getting the most timely and appropriate shots at the local physician.

The Centers for Disease Control said this week that costs may be a factor in why a lack of American adults are lining up for vaccination shots.

Everything from preventing shingles, whopping cough and cervical cancer are found in standard vaccinations -- many adults just aren't getting them. Is this another failing of the U.S. health care system or are adults just not justifying the need for these shots?

When a survey finds that many adults don't even know which diseases they could prevent with a simple vaccination shot (except for the flu), then perhaps a lack of education is at fault here. Have you been asked by your doctor to get a vaccination shot in the last year?

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]]>shotsvaccinationsvirus shotsVirusShotsBrian WhiteThu, 24 Jan 2008 15:23:00 ESTHeart disease, diabetes more prevalent with western diethttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/heart-disease-diabetes-more-prevalent-with-western-diet/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/heart-disease-diabetes-more-prevalent-with-western-diet/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/heart-disease-diabetes-more-prevalent-with-western-diet/#commentsFiled under:

Who doesn't love a cheeseburger, Philly cheese steak or a slice of pizza ala Windy City? A new study shows that engaging in the typical western-style diet -- that is, pizza, burgers, sodas and fried foods -- can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Although this is something many of us have heard before, the findings should remind us of something: over and over again, subjecting oneself to a strict western diet all the time can have dire health consequences. Even China, which is seeing more of its population eating a western-style diet, is seeing negative health effects.

Dr. Lyn Steffen indicated that eating two hamburger patties and one diet soda per day can "substantially" boost one's risk of developing metabolic syndrome. This happens when three of the following five factors are present: a large waistline, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar, elevated fasting triglycerides, or reduced levels of good (HDL) cholesterol.

Although dumping burgers, fries, pizza, soda and fried foods in general would be impossible for some, limiting your intake of them would be a prudent idea based on this new research -- and the multitude of related stories before it.

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]]>diabetesheart diseaseHeartDiseasewestern dietWesternDietBrian WhiteWed, 23 Jan 2008 19:36:00 ESTWal-Mart unveils employee health care participant informationhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/wal-mart-unveils-employee-health-care-participant-information/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/wal-mart-unveils-employee-health-care-participant-information/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/wal-mart-unveils-employee-health-care-participant-information/#commentsFiled under:

Wal-Mart Stores, the world's largest retailer, indicated today that just over 50 percent of its employees in the U.S. were now subscribing to (and benefiting from) its company-provided health insurance. This was the first time in many years that over half of its domestic employees were covered by the retailer's health insurance.

In 2005, Wal-Mart pegged health insurance coverage participation at 43 percent, so the retailer has had a gain of over 7 percent in a little over two years.

Wal-Mart did state that 9.7 percent of its U.S. employees reported receiving government-sponsored health care coverage. To Wal-Mart critics, that points to wages that are too low for many employees to even afford health insurance through the retailer's programs.

The retailer said that its new health care plans were responsible for the decline from 9.6 percent uninsured to 7.3 percent, as it offers health insurance premiums as low as $5 monthly in addition to the retailer's public $4 prescription drug program.

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]]>Health careHealthCareWal-martWal-Mart health insuranceWal-martHealthInsuranceWMTBrian WhiteWed, 23 Jan 2008 17:21:00 ESTMorning light therapy found to help bipolar disorderhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/light-therapy-said-to-help-bipolar-disorder/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/light-therapy-said-to-help-bipolar-disorder/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/23/light-therapy-said-to-help-bipolar-disorder/#commentsFiled under:

A new study suggests that those women with bipolar disorder may have relief from their depression if light therapy is used to help treat them.

Although light therapy has been used to treat "winter depression," its use in treating normal depressive conditions has not reached the mainstream from what I have been able to see.

The best type and "dose" of light therapy was studied in a female patient group of about nine women who were all in the depressive state of bipolar disorder and who all had failed to respond to conventional treatments.

The findings: six of the nine were observed to have a level of benefit from the three different types of light therapy that were used on them. The "types" were basically exposure levels for differing time amounts at different hours of the day. The best type of light therapy, according to the research, was that light classified as bright light therapy in the morning.

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]]>bipolar disorderBipolarDisorderlight therapyLightTherapyBrian WhiteWed, 23 Jan 2008 16:01:00 EST