Exercise may reduce chronic pain

Here is some interesting anecdotal evidence of how many are using exercise/movement to treat pain, including chronic pain that many had struggled with for years. This certainly seems like something to be at least investigated further if not just tried.

www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0721-pain-20100721,0,6621419,print.story

Insurers Push Plans That Limit Choice of Doctor

This stuff is not fun to read but it is probably good if we have an idea of what we are facing in the health insurance market, whether it be immediate changes or those to come in later years as health care reform is phased in. As it appears health care costs are going to continue to rise, these limited plans described in this article are going to be more common. We will try to keep you as updated as possible on this subject that is so important to all of us. Some of the comments here are interesting and feel free to add yours in our comments section.

www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/business/18choice.html?_r=1&ref=health

Eating to Live or Living to Eat?

There is a lot here but some very interesting information describing how different areas of the brain affect our eating habits. This might help to explain some of the cravings we have, especially, in my case with sweets after eating a meal. Basically a concise, easy to understand account of what can be a very complicated subject for some of us non-medical “civilians”.

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704288204575363072381955744.html?mod=ITP_personaljournal_0

Health watch: Are you label literate?

Here is valuable information that we can all use regarding the importance of being able to really understand what we are reading on a food label and know exactly what we are putting in our bodies.

www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-foods-0702-health-labels-20100702,0,4610566,print.story

How nutritious is Vitaminwater?

I’ve gone through stages where I drank a lot of this stuff or similar drinks. It might not be a bad idea to do a little research, beginning with this article, and see if drinking these vitamin “fortified” drinks are worth it, both in nutritional value and expense. With more of these type drinks, high energy drinks, etc. coming out all the time and after they are tried and tested for a while, it seems that now, more than ever, good old water is the way to go.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062804257_pf.html

F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010

It’s hard to believe with all of the media attention over the last couple years, but it appears the obesity issue in the US is getting worse instead of better. Obesity rates increased in 28 states year to year and decreased only in the District of Columbia. Most of us know intellectually that we need to monitor what we take in and increase our level of movement and exercise and yet reports like this one keep on coming. When and what will be the tipping point?

healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2010/

In Summer’s Heat, Watch What You Drink

This New York Times article supplies some good information about really focusing on what we drink in the summer, not just for hydration purposes, as important as that is, but caloric also, as we need to be careful with what we choose to satisfy our thirst this time of year. As the article states, sugar-sweetened sodas are the single largest source of calories in the American diet, 7.1% so this is an important issue we can all learn more about.

www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/health/29brod.html?pagewanted=print

Summertime Fun in the Sun, and Other Perils

As Sgt. Phil Esterhaus used to say at the end of roll call each day on the Hill Street Blues,”Hey, let’s be careful out there!” Same goes for all of us as summer proceeds and we are outside more, whether it is working, playing or working out. This article in the Wall Street Journal from their “Informed Patient” column has a lot of good information about playing it safe outdoors this summer.

online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704749904575292550042794636.html#printMode

Calorie counts of your favorite barbecue foods

Calorie counts and fat content of some of our summer favorites.

www.chicagotribune.com/features/sns-food-barbecue-favorites-calories,0,2592073.photogallery

When Patients Don’t Fill Their Prescriptions

In the past, doctors and pharmacists knew many patients didn’t complete the entire cycle of prescribed medications. Now, with more data available, is evidence many patients don’t even get some of their prescriptions filled.

This article from the NY Times has some explanations and ideas why. What is your personal experience and if you have left prescriptions unfilled, why? I’d like to hear your thoughts on this subject.

www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/health/20chen.html?pagewanted=print

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