Flap over treating Lyme Disease

Some 20,000 people will be diagnosed this year with Lyme disease, most in the northeast, mid-atlantic states and Wisconsin,Minnesota and northern California.

For the first time since 2001 the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) updated it's guidelines regarding treatment of Lyme .. and they're controverisal .. saying "95 percent of cases of Lyme disease are cured with 10 to 28 days of oral antibiotics."
The update came out in November but is getting an airing now.
The arguement against the update: that many people need prolonged treatment .. the IDSA says, not so - that it can only lead to drug resistance and other medical problems.

I share this because, if you're being treated for Lyme and your doctor wants to change direction, you'll know why . .and if you're recently diagnosed, you'll know the current thinking.
Mind you, just because the IDSA makes a recommendation doesn't mean doctors HAVE to follow it .. but the currrent thinking is, insurance companies will begin to push - as a shorter course of treatment can mean a smaller price tag.
Anyway .. if you want to learn more .. follow this link.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/

You say tomato...

The hype over tomatoes, specifically the chemical lycopene in the ruby red fruit, is not something a supplement maker can cash in on. So rules the FDA.

Lycopenes, which are in abudance when tomatoes are cooked, has been shown in lab studies to stop the proliferation of several types of cancer cells with especially encouraging results for prostate cancer. But does that rise to the level of something you could or should be taking in a pill?

The FDA says no... and rejected the petition by a supplement maker to tout lycopene as a cancer preventer.

As the American Institute for Cancer Research says - despite our desire to find a super food, there really isn't one ... it's about eating a diet rich in fruits and veggies- as all the chemicals in these foods work together to work their magic - that pulling one out does not make for better health.

You say tomato...

Foul weather reminders

The recent spate of storms we've had brings a few pointers to mind.

With many of us keeping our records on our computers, they're impossible to access when the power goes out. It's a good idea to keep your power company account numbers written down so when you call in an outage you can give them that info.

Also .. it's a good idea to have one hard wired phone in your home. When the power goes, so goes your portable phone. This is especially important for seniors who may not have a cell phone or not use it often enough to keep it charged.

And be sure to keep candles/matches handy ( but out of the reach of little hands) and always have a working flashlight. If you light your way with candles, just be sure to place them on a non-flammable surface. Sounds obvious, but it's easy in the dark to put those flames in spots that can make bigger troubles than darkness.

Finally, I love being connected .. so I always have enough batteries to power a little portable black and white t.v.

THE BETTER TO SEE YOU WITH:

If you've got a loved one in a nursing home you might want to ask if their vision's been checked. A new study from Alabama finds two thirds of the patients didn't have an eye exam annually and some 57% of those seniors suffer visual problems.
Moreover, medicare pays for that eye exam. So, check that your loved ones eyes have been checked - it not only opens the world, but can be a safety issue. For more information check out:http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract

How about a chow down to help a local hospital.
That's right . .bring an appetite and maybe a bib as Nathan Littauer Hospital hosts a chili cookoff on

Sunday, July 15, 2007 - Perth Fire House, Rte 30 Perth, NY

Sponsored by Perth Volunteer Fire Company and Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home Auxiliary

12 noon - 3 p.m.

Primary Care Center Entries:

Caroga Lake ~ Johnstown Primary Care Centers

Mayfield ~ Perth-Broadalbin Primary Care Centers

Steele Avenue Primary Care

tickets cost 5 bucks ..
with all these health organizations involved, gotta figure the fiber content in the chili should be sky high .. oh and yes, a couple of restaurants are also entering.
Bon Appetite!

Obesity breakthrough? Possibly

Brown fat - white fat .. we've got them both in our bodies. The white fat's the jiggly stuff Americans, in general, have too much of. The brown fat cranks up body heat - helping us dissipate food energy as heat. For years, researchers have been looking for a way to rev up the brown fat so we don't store as much white fat. Lo and behold, some researchers at Dana Farber have done just that with mice.
Of course, there's much more research ahead but it's interesting, no?

In the meantime, we're always told to eat more antioxidant rich food . .and that berries top the list. One of my favorites - the FIT AND ACTIVE berry blend sold at Aldi's. Good price, good taste, good bang for the buck .. just stick to serving size as dried fruits of any kind are higher in calories than fresh.