A Positive Inheritance

We all want to pass on to our progeny what is most precious to us. Mistakenly we often think about our inheritance in terms of material wealth.

What we most deeply transfer to our children is the best and worst of our character. Probably no one sees our failings as clearly as our teenage children. I have learned long ago that I can get nothing by them, so I don’t even try. They witness my struggles to stay committed, to keep my promises, to face my challenges with dignity. They know my failures and have picture perfect memories of many of the days that I missed the mark.

Happily what also seems to translate over time, often imperceptibly are the values and daily practices that make us who we are. In my case, the last 18 months has given my kids daily doses of my work to both see the world positively and to make a positive contribution to the world. More and more frequently they see me take breaks to rest, exercise and meditate, the three practices that most efficiently bring me back in to balance.

Lately as they have been facing their own growing challenges they have joined me in my practices. My eldest daughter has opened up to the power of full presence and is vigilantly noticing all of the moments that pull her away from it. My younger son has discovered the power of meditation since his frightening accidents earlier this year and to relieve anxiety before his basketball games. I love teaching them about this work that has given me the capacity to love my life.

Today we all lay down together to meditate, when my son commented in his dry and teen mocking tone about how “I am about to have a perfect moment…” It was true and funny as I lay draped by my kids doing what I love most. We all started to laugh and each time we started the guided meditation over, laughed harder. I have heard about laughing meditation before but had never achieved it until today.

Later that day, Luke went to his games, looking only for that feeling of falling into yourself and doing what you love so completely that you are literally lost in the present. There isn’t a scoreboard, there is just the game. And a fast moving game it was against a team called the Elite… His team stepped it up and were gallant, and he in his full presence, let his body do what it knew how to do and rained threes. Mostly I just witnessed the utter joy of being fully and completely in life. No over thinking, no comparisons, just the pure thrill of being you.

These are the days when I am so grateful to have an inheritance worth something to pass on.

Arthritis Awareness Month: Supplements and Herbal Remedies
By Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

May is Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis,: which means "joint inflammation" is a general term for over 100 different joint disorders with symptoms ranging from mild aches and pains to severe swelling and crippling pain. Alternative answers for arthritis include a acupuncture, effective exercise, dietary changes and controlling emotional stress.

Taking additional vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements can help to supplement major deficiencies. Touch therapies and hydrotherapy have also shown to be very beneficial. Learn more about how to improve your arthritis and get it under control, naturally. I will be featuring alternative answers for treating arthritis throughout the month.

Supplements

Acidophilus: The normal, healthy colon contains "friendly" bacteria (85% lactobacillus and 15% coliform bacteria). It is the friendly bacterial flora found in yogurt and is essential to the digestive system. When these bacteria are not in balance, then the person may experience bloating, flatulence, constipation, and malabsorption of nutrients. Acidophilus taken as a dietary supplement may help to detoxify and to rebuild a balanced intestinal flora. It is used for the prevention of Candida as well as for treatment. Acidophilus aids the digestion and helps to replace the "friendly" intestinal flora.

Baikal Skullcap: Flavonoid compounds of baikal skullcap display significant antioxidant effects and promote a healthy inflammation response. Baikal skullcap modulatates both COX and LOX pathways, encourages healthy cardiovascular function, and promotes normal cell growth.* As an antioxidant, it is superior to vitamins C and E. Moreover, baikal skullcap provides immune support, non-sedating anxiolytic effects, modulates histamine release, and supports the health of cells during oxidative treatments.

Calcium and Magnesium can be effective for pain associated with muscle spasms. Take 500 mgs of each, two-three times per day.

A diet that includes Flaxseed, flaxseed oil and fish oils contain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and decrease pain. Omega-3 fatty acids help lower cholesterol, may help reduce the risk of irregular heart rhythms and may also improve certain factors, like high blood pressure.

Probiotic A probiotic will fortify your intestinal flora, which are essential for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. This is key to good health and a strong immune system. Studies have shown that patients who begin a course of probiotics with fiber a few days prior to surgery are less likely to pick up a post-operative infection during their hospital stays. This demonstrates a strong connection between intestinal flora and immune function. The fiber, which provides the friendly bacteria both food and sanctuary, can be as simple as an apple or banana.

Magnesium is essential for forming synovial fluid which is the joint cushion. Magnesium is important for cell replication, energy production, the transmission of nerve impulses and hormonal activity. Magnesium can be found in brown rice, soy beans, nuts, brewer's yeast, whole wheat flour and legumes. Consider supplementing magnesium with a recommended daily dose of 200 - 400 mg daily. Caution: Magnesium is toxic to people with renal (kidney) problems or AV (atrioventricular) blocks.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause fatigue. In one trial, 2,500 -5,000 mcg of vitamin B12 given by injection every two to three days, led to improvement in 50-80% of a group of people with arthritis; most improvement appeared after several weeks of B12 shots. While the research in this area remains preliminary, people with arthritis considering a trial of vitamin B12 injections should consult a nutritional doctor. Oral or sublingual B12 supplements are unlikely to obtain the same results as injectable B12 because the body’s ability to absorb large amounts is relatively poor.

Vitamins B6,: Foods rich in the B vitamins, which help regulate metabolism, are also beneficial, as diets high in sugar tend to burn these vitamins at a faster rate. These foods include wheat germ, yogurt, and liver.

Vitamin C acts primarily in cellular fluid. Vitamin C scavenges free radicals and cleans up waste products. In addition to its anti-oxidative activities, vitamin C benefits many other body functions. Vitamin C is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, which is an important component in the structural make up of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters and norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are critical to brain function and are known to affect mood. Vitamin C, even in small amounts, can protect molecules in the body, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals. Vitamin C helps in the fight against free-radical formation caused by pollution and cigarette smoke and also helps return vitamin E to its active form. Take 2,000 - 8,000 mg in divided dosage per day, depending on bowel tolerance.

Herbal Remedies

The medicinal benefits of herbs have been recorded for centuries. Herbs were extensively used to cure practically every known illness and has been documented by Egyptian, Roman, Native American, Persians and Hebrews alike. Many herbs contain powerful ingredients that, if used correctly, can help heal the body. By using herbs in their complete form, the body's healing process utilizes a balance of the ingredients provided by nature.

Herbs and herbal formulas can be taken in a variety of ways.

*You may steep herbs as teas in order to release their healing properties.

* Herbal supplements in pills and capsules are another form. These are herbs ground into powder. Herbal formulas tend to be created for a single problem or nest of related problems and their specific pattern of disharmony.

* Tinctures. Herbal remedies are also prescribed in tincture form and are the previously fresh herb in well preserved, highly concentrated form. This liquid, as well as, concentrated forms of extracted herbs are preserved in their freshest form.

* Steam distillation or cold pressing results in herbs as essential oils.

* Plasters are ingredients such as oils, herbs and other pain relieving herbs combined into an easy to use stick on strip or patch.

* Poultice are macerated or chopped herbs that are placed directly on the skin and a hot, moist bandage is applied.

* Infusions are used when you are working with the most delicate part of the herb-the leaves flowers, fruits and seeds.

* Decoction is used to extract the tougher part of the herb-bark, berries and roots.

It is also important to note that since herbs contain active ingredients, be aware that some elements may interact negatively with prescribed medications! Therefore, your healthcare professional must be notified if you have any questions about safety. As a general rule: most of the bitter tasting herbs are medicinal herbs and the pleasant tasting herbs are less toxic and can be used more often. Also, some herbs in any form, should not be taken for more than seven days at a time. Others herbs are more beneficial with time. The fresh leaves, bark, and roots of herbs can be used in their natural form or can be found in dried form and used in capsules, tablets, tinctures, essential oils, powders, creams, lotions, and salves.

Herbal medicine is a wonderful solution for pain and pain management. Complications can arise when taking herbal medicine and allopathic drugs internally, which your doctor has prescribed. Great caution should be used especially if you are on blood thinners, diuretics or heart related medication. Consult your doctor with any questions you may have, before taking additional herbs or supplements, internally.

Arnica Suave is a rich blend of quartz silica, amber resin and the pain-relieving power of arnica in a special massage-in suave designed by Andrew for his practice and is a part of his new "Crystal Inspirations" product line.

Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) may decrease the progression of arthritis. This dark brown seaweed is a soothing and nourishing tonic. Caution: avoid in overactive (hyper) thyroid conditions.

Bromelain is a plant-enzyme. Bromelain is not actually a single substance, but a group of protein-digesting enzymes found in pineapple juice and in the stem of pineapple plants. Local swelling is the releasing of histamines in a localized area causes the vasodilation and increased permeability of blood vessels. Bromelain has an anti-inflammatory effect and is a very effective treatment for fibromyalgia. It is recommend taking 200 to 400 milligrams three times a day on an empty stomach at least ninety minutes before or three hours after eating. Discontinue use if you develop any itching or rash.

Cats Claw Bark (Uncaria tomentosa): A great anti-inflammatory herb. Also called Una de Gato, the root and bark of this herb, which has cat-like horns or claws, has been used by since the Inca civilization to treat a variety of health problems, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, stomach ulcers, many inflammatory disorders, dysentery, and fevers.

Cayenne Pepper (Capsaicin): In liquid tincture form is used internally as an ayurvedic remedy for joint pain, especially when affected by cold and dampness. Consider our topical Arthritis Remedy Blend for decreasing pain and inflammation.

Dandelion Root (Taraxacum Officinale): is recommended for degenerative arthritis. This infamous liver tonic is a safe diuretic herb used for all types of liver problems, promotes good digestion and plays a crucial role in detoxification. This is helpful for chronic and wasting diseases.

Devils Claw: An analgesic and anti-inflammatory. This tuber is used to treat all kinds of arthritis. Dosage: one to two grams, three times daily.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium): is very helpful as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and emmenagogue reknowned for the treatment of both migraines and arthritis. The dosage is 1 teaspoon of tincture, 20-30 drops at the onset of a migraine. Repeat after 2 hours as needed. For repeated attacks and as a treatment for arhtritis, take one teaspoon every morning.

Ginger: An anti-inflammatory. Ginger has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory. Taking 6–50 grams of fresh, liquid tincture or powdered ginger per day indicated that ginger might be helpful. Suggested Dosage: 0.5 to 1 mg of powdered ginger daily

Ginger Tonic: Ginger supports healthy digestion, promotes a healthy inflammation response, promotes platelet health and cardiovascular function, and increases the absorption and utilization of other herbs and nutrients.

Ginseng, Siberian: (Eleuthero senticosus) is beneficial especially for rheumatoid arthritis. This famous wonder of the world root is widely used and increase vital energy, works as an adaptogen herb, strengthens the immune system, helps the body cope with side effects from chemotherapy and is a great jet lag tonic. Caution: use for short durations only. May aggravate anxiety, irritability and high blood pressure.

Glucosamine sulfate (GS), a nutrient derived from sea shells, contains a building block needed for the repair of joint cartilage. GS has significantly reduced symptoms of osteoarthritis. All published clinical investigations on the effects of GS in people with osteoarthritis report statistically significant improvement. Most research trials use 500 mg GS taken three times per day. Benefits from GS generally become evident after three to eight weeks of treatment. Avoid if you have any allergic reactions to shell fish.

Glucosamine stimulates the production of the specific elements of cartilage and protects them. It helps your body repair worn cartilage, reduce pain and improve function. Chondroitin attracts fluids into proteoglycans, the molecules dispersed through out the cartilage that give the tissue its shock-absorber quality, and protects the cartilage against breakdown. These are substances the body already produces for itself in small amounts.

Glucosamine is found in almost all tissue; it has a role in the repair and maintenance of joint cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate is a major component of cartilage and is thought to inhibit the enzymes that contribute to the breakdown of cartilage.

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): attributes its healing power to its high content of silica and zinc. This common weed works well for arthritis, particularly in synergy with dandelion root.

S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) possesses anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and tissue-healing properties that may help protect the health of joints.SAM-e is derived from methionine, an essential amino acid; it may promote cartilage formation and repair. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are usually sold together. In clinical studies, the supplements had to be taken for several weeks before providing any pain relief. Don't forget the truly natural and proven methods for battling osteoarthritis, lose excess weight and exercise.

Turmeric: Turmeric is a traditional ayurvedic remedyand medicine that has been researched for its ability to promote a healthy inflammation response, support cardiovascular health, and support normal cell growth. An effective anti-inflammatory. Dosage: 400 mg three times daily; take on an empty stomach and combine with 1,000 mg of bromelain

Wild Yam Root (Dioscorea villosa): is very beneficial in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This dried root is known for its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. This root works in wonderful synergy with White Willow Bark.

White Willow Bark: Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. White Willow bark has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Extracts providing 60–120 mg salicin per day are approved for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Although the analgesic actions of willow are typically slow-acting, they last longer than aspirin.

Beating Jet Lag
By Diane Longstreet

Last week I flew from Tampa to Los Angeles for a one day meeting. Friends asked me if I was crazy. No, the business training was worth it, and I have a system for beating jet lag. With over 25 international flights logged, it's a well-tested routine that works for me.

A few pieces of equipment are necessary; a good noise reduction headset, sleep mask, and a soft pharmacy-grade neck brace. The neck brace is an essential piece of travel gear; semi-circular neck pillows don't stop the head from dropping forward whereas the cloth medical brace does.

A good seat assignment helps. For the red-eye flights where the entire plane sleeps, my favorite is to get three seats across. Window seats afford something to lean against. Aisle seats give you the option to get up and move around without disturbing your seat mates. Avoid the seats that are against a bulkhead as they don't recline.

Hydrate! Pack an empty water bottle or buy one as soon as you are through security. Drink more water than you would normally as air-conditioning has a drying effect. Skip the alcohol. Avoid salty snacks which increase your need water. Hold the coffee until the very end when you need to be alert through disembarkation. Bring eye drops if you have the slightest tendency toward dry eye.

Mental attitude is critical. As soon as the travel begins, set your watch to your destination time and start thinking about those daily routines. Every two hours think about what time it is at your destination and imagine what you would be doing at that time on a normal day. As much as possible, match your meals and activity to that internal image. A good acupressure system can enhance this process.

Sleep as best you can. If sleep eludes you, rest and meditate. Pretend you are sleeping and often sleep will come.

Wear comfortable shoes that can either be slipped off or loosely laced. Feet swell on long journeys with lots of sitting.

When there are layovers, walk the terminals for exercise. Yes it looks weird but people understand what you're doing after the second lap.

On long flights, get up and move around. If you are blocked in, wiggle your feet, stretch and do isotonic exercise. Movement helps prevent a potentially life threatening condition called deep vein thrombosis...and it feels good.

The key to avoiding constipation is fiber, fluid, and exercise. Only take a fiber supplement if you have enough fluid to go with it. Yoga-style belly exercises help.

Especially on flights without meal service, pack your own healthy food. I also pack untoasted muesli and my favorite teabags so I can make my own breakfast in the hotel room. Next trip I'll be adding powdered milk to make it better.

Every trip is different. On this most recent "coach" experience, the blankets were on the menu for purchase. Next flight I'll add a shawl to the carry-on kit. My friends, if you have more to add to this list, please do so. For those of us that love to travel, staying healthy on the journey makes the destination all the more enjoyable. Safe journey!

10 Common Medication Mistakes That Can Kill
By Melanie Haiken

The numbers are simply staggering: Every year 1.5 million people are sickened or severely injured by medication mistakes, and 100,000 die. And yet all of those deaths are preventable. What’s the answer? We have to protect ourselves. Here are the ten medication mistakes experts say are most likely to kill or cause serious harm.

1. Confusing two medications with similar names
It can happen anywhere in the transmission chain: Maybe the doctor’s handwriting is illegible, or the name goes into the pharmacy computer incorrectly, or the swap occurs when the wrong drug is pulled from the shelves. “Most pharmacies shelve drugs in alphabetical order, so you have drugs with similar names right next to each other, which makes it even more likely for someone to grab the wrong one,” says Michael Negrete, CEO of the nonprofit Pharmacy Foundation of California.

According to the national Medication Error Reporting Program, confusion caused by similar drug names accounts for up to 25 percent of all reported errors. Examples of commonly confused pairings include Adderall (a stimulant used for ADHD) versus Inderal (a beta-blocker used for high blood pressure), and Paxil (an antidepressant) versus the rhyming Taxol (a cancer drug) and the similar-sounding Plavix (an anticlotting medication). The Institute for Safe Medication Practice's list of these oft-confused pairs goes on for pages.

How to avoid it: When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor to write down what it’s for as well as the name and dosage. If the prescription reads depression but is meant for stomach acid, that should be a red flag for the pharmacist. When you’re picking up a prescription at the pharmacy, check the label to make sure the name of the drug (brand or generic), dosage, and directions for use are the same as those on the prescription. (If you don’t have the prescription yourself because the doctor sent it in directly, ask the pharmacist to compare the label with what the doctor sent.)

2. Taking two or more drugs that magnify each other’s potential side effects
Any drug you take has potential side effects. But the problems can really add up whenever you take two or more medications at the same time, because there are so many ways they can interact with each other, says Anne Meneghetti, M.D., director of Clinical Communication for Epocrates, a medication management system for doctors. “Drugs can interfere with each other, and that’s what you’re most likely to hear about. But they can also magnify each other, or one drug can magnify a side effect caused by another drug,” says Meneghetti.

Two of the most common — and most dangerous — of these magnification interactions involve blood pressure and dizziness. If you’re taking one medication that has a potential side effect of raising blood pressure, and you then begin taking a second medication with the same possible effect, your blood pressure could spike dangerously from the combination of the two. One medication that lists “dizziness” is worrisome enough, but two with that side effect could lead to falls, fractures, and worse.

Be particularly careful if you’ve been prescribed the blood-thinner Coumadin (warfarin). According to Pharmacy Foundation of California’s Michael Negrete, “You need just the right amount of Coumadin in your system for it to work properly; too much or too little and you could have serious heart problems such as arrhythmias or a stroke. But so many other drugs interfere with its action that you have to be really careful.”

How to avoid it: Ask your doctor or a pharmacist about potential side effects when you get a new prescription, and make sure the pharmacy gives you written printouts about the medication to review later. Keep all such handouts in a file, so that when you get a new prescription, you can compare the info provided with the handouts from your older prescriptions. If you see the same side effect listed for more than one medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it’s cause for concern.

3. Overdosing by combining more than one medication with similar properties
Think of this one as the Heath Ledger syndrome, says Michael Negrete of Pharmacy Foundation of California. It’s all too easy to end up with several medications that all have similar actions, although they were prescribed to treat different conditions. “You might have one medication prescribed to treat pain, another prescribed for anxiety, and another that’s given as a sleeping pill — but they’re all sedatives, and the combined effect is toxic,” explains Negrete.

The risk for this kind of overdose is highest with drugs that function by depressing the central nervous system. These include narcotic painkillers such as codeine; benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Halcion, Xanax, and Valium; barbiturate tranquilizers such as Seconal; some of the newer drugs such as BuSpar, for anxiety; and the popular sleeping pill Ambien.

But oversedation can also happen with seemingly innocent over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines (diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl, is one of the worst offenders), cough and cold medicines, and OTC sleeping pills. This type of drug mixing is responsible for many medication-induced deaths, especially among younger adults.

How to avoid it: Pay attention to the warnings on the packaging of over-the-counter medications, and the risks listed in the documentation for prescriptions. Key words are sleepy, drowsy, dizzy, sedation, and their equivalents. If more than one of your prescriptions or OTC drugs warns against taking it while driving, or warns that it can make you drowsy, beware. This means the drug has a sedative effect on the central nervous system and shouldn’t be combined with other drugs (including alcohol) that have the same effect.

4. Getting the dosage wrong
Drugs are prescribed in a variety of units of measure, units that are usually notated using abbreviations or symbols — offering a host of opportunities for disaster. All it takes is a misplaced decimal point and 1.0 mg becomes 10 mg, a tenfold dosing error that could cause a fatal overdose.

Some of the most extreme dosage mistakes occur when someone mistakes a dose in milligrams with one in micrograms, resulting in a dose 1,000 times higher. This mostly happens in the hospital with IV drugs, but it’s been known to happen with outpatient meds as well. Insulin, the primary treatment for diabetes, causes some of the worst medication errors because it’s measured in units, abbreviated with a U, which can look like a zero or a 4 or any number of other things when scribbled.

Another common problem, says pharmacist Bona Benjamin, director of Medication-Use Quality Improvement at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is getting the frequency wrong — so, say, a drug that is supposed to be given once a day is given four times a day.

How to avoid it: Make sure your doctor’s writing is clear on the original prescription; if you can’t read the dosage indicated, chances are the nurse and pharmacist will have difficulty as well. When you pick up the prescription from the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to check the dosage to make sure it’s within the range that’s typical for that medication. In the hospital, when a nurse is about to administer a new medication, ask what it is and request that he or she check your chart to make sure it’s the right one for you and that the dosage is indicated clearly. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you think you’re about to get the wrong medicine or the wrong dose.

5. Mixing alcohol with medications
There are plenty of drugs that come with that cute bright orange warning sticker attached, telling you not to drink when taking them. However, the sticker can fall off, or not get attached in the first place, or you might just really need that cocktail and figure it’ll be OK “just this once.” But alcohol, combined with a long list of painkillers, sedatives, and other medications, becomes a deadly poison in these situations. In fact, many experts now say you shouldn’t drink when on *any* medication without first checking with your doctor.

Alcohol can also have a dangerous interaction with OTC drugs such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cough and cold medicines — and if the cough or cold medicines themselves contain alcohol, you can end up with alcohol poisoning. Alcohol can also compete with certain medications for absorption, leading to dangerous interactions. Mix alcohol and certain antidepressants, for example, and you have the potential for a dangerous rise in blood pressure, while alcohol and certain sedatives such as Ativan or Valium can depress the heart rate enough to put you in a coma.

How to avoid it: When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor or a pharmacist if the medication is safe to take while drinking alcohol. If you’re a heavy drinker and you know it’s likely you’ll drink while taking the medication, tell your doctor. She may need to prescribe something else instead. Also, read the handouts that come with your prescriptions to see if alcohol is mentioned as a risk. And read the labels of all OTC medications carefully, both to see if alcohol is mentioned as a risk and also to see if alcohol is an ingredient in the medication itself.

6. Double-dosing by taking a brand-name drug and the generic version at the same time
With insurance companies mandating the use of generic drugs whenever they’re available, it’s all too common for patients to get confused and end up with bottles of a brand-name drug and a generic version at the same time without realizing it. “For example, a common diuretic is furosemide. The brand name is Lasix. A patient might have a bottle of furosemide and a bottle of Lasix and not know they’re the same thing,” says internist Bruce Mann, M.D. “In essence, the patient is taking twice the dose.” Since generic drugs don’t list the equivalent brand name on the label, you might not spot this unless your brand-name version lists the generic name in the fine print.

How to avoid it: When your doctor prescribes a new medication, make sure you have a chance to go over all the details you might need to know later. Have the doctor write down the name of the drug (brand and generic, if available), what it’s for, its dosage, and how often and when to take it. Try to remember both names for future reference. Also, look up the generic names for each of your brand-name prescriptions and vice versa; then line up all of your medicine bottles and see if you have any duplications.

7. Taking prescription drugs and over-the-counter or alternative medications without knowing how they interact
It’s easy to think that something you can grab off the shelf at your local grocery or drug store must be safe, but some of the most common OTC drugs can cause serious reactions. A top contender is medicine-chest staple Maalox, meant to calm digestive upset. A new and very popular version, Maalox Total Relief, contains an ingredient called bismuth subsalicylate that can react dangerously with anticlotting drugs, drugs for hypoglycemia, and anti-inflammatories, particularly ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDs.

Another standby to watch out for is aspirin, which thins the blood. If you forget to stop taking aspirin before a surgical procedure, the result can be life-threatening bleeding.

Then there’s the herb Saint-John’s-wort, which many people take for depression. The fact that Saint-John’s-wort can interfere with prescription antidepressants has received a fair amount of attention, but few people know that it also interferes with the liver’s processing of blood thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) and heart medications such as Digoxin.

How to avoid it: When your doctor is writing out a new prescription, this is also the time to mention or remind her about any OTC meds or supplements you take. Never add a medication without discussing how it interacts with what you’re already taking.

8. Not understanding interactions between medications and your diet
The most serious culprit in this situation is grapefruit juice, which has unique properties when it comes to inactivating or overactivating medications. Grapefruit juice inhibits a crucial enzyme that normally functions to break down and metabolize many drugs, such as antiseizure drugs and statins used to lower cholesterol. The result? The overloaded liver can’t metabolize the medication, resulting in an overdose, with potentially fatal consequences.

Other less serious interactions to be aware of include coffee and iron; the coffee inhibits absorption. Doctors say they frequently see coffee drinkers who take their iron in the morning with breakfast, yet their anemia doesn’t go away because the iron isn’t absorbed. Grapefruit interactions are serious enough that they’re often listed on medication handouts, but many food and drink interactions aren’t mentioned.

How to avoid it: When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor or a pharmacist whether you should take it with food, without food, and if there are any particular dietary issues to watch out for.

9. Failing to adjust medication dosages when a patient loses kidney or liver function
Loss of liver or kidney function impairs your body’s ability to rid itself of toxins, or foreign substances, so medications can build up in the body at higher dosages than intended. According to Bona Benjamin of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, a common — and often serious or fatal — mistake that doctors make is not decreasing medication dosages when patients begin to suffer impaired kidney or liver function. There are many medications that doctors shouldn’t prescribe without first ordering liver and kidney function tests, but safety studies show that’s often not happening.

How to avoid it: When you bring home a new prescription, read the fine print to see if liver or kidney function is mentioned. If so, ask your doctor if you’ve had recent liver and kidney function screenings.

10. Taking a medication that’s not safe for your age
As we age, our bodies process medications differently. Also, aging brings with it an increased risk of many problems such as dementia, dizziness and falling, and high blood pressure, so drugs that can cause these side effects are much riskier for people over the age of 65.

Since the early 1990s, a research team led by Mark Beers, M.D., has compiled criteria for medications that should no longer be considered safe for those over 65. This list of Inappropriate Medications for the Elderly, known informally as the “Beers List,” is a great resource if you or someone you’re caring for is over 65.

How to avoid it: Take the Beers List to your doctor and ask her to check it against all medications prescribed. Sadly, a recent Beers survey found that among those over 65, more than 16 percent had recently filled prescriptions for two or more drugs on the Beers list, suggesting that many doctors are still uninformed about the risks of these drugs. If you discover that you or a family member over 65 is taking medications that are considered risky, you may need to be proactive and ask the doctor to find alternatives.

Nearly 1 in 7 Kids Have a Learning Disability
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

The number of children with developmental disabilities has increased by 17% in 12 years, driven largely by big jumps in diagnoses for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, research shows.

More than 15% of school-age kids about 10 million children had a developmental disability in 2006-08, according to a study released Monday in the journal Pediatrics. That's up from 12.8% in 1997-99.

The study suggests that three or four children in a typical elementary school classroom have development disabilities. Some of the increase may be the result of the rise in premature birth, which leaves some babies with lasting impairments, says study author Sheree Boulet of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One in eight babies today are born prematurely, according to the March of Dimes.

In the past, many children who had problems learning or talking would have been dismissed as odd, says Alison Schonwald of Children's Hospital Boston. Today, these children are more likely to be diagnosed with a problem. Parents may push for an official diagnosis so their children can receive medication, special education or other services, says Schonwald, who wasn't involved in the new study.

"It's great to diagnose them early, so we can intervene early and help them reach their full potential." Though the high rate of disability is sobering, she says, "it's much more daunting to think of the number of adults out there who have never been identified and served."

Others say the study underestimates the number of kids with developmental disabilities. Many kids with learning disabilities, for example, aren't diagnosed until they're 11 or 12, says Neal Halfon of the University of California-Los Angeles. So the new study, which included kids ages 3 to 17, may have missed some of them, he says. Halfon notes that schools have a disincentive to test kids for learning problems, because a diagnosis would require them to pay for special ed.

And some, such as Philip Landrigan of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, say improvements in screening and diagnosis can't completely explain the increase. Landrigan says research suggests that environmental chemicals, such as pesticides and the phthalates found in many soft plastics and cosmetics, can affect children's development.

The study also underscores the need to help parents and teachers of disabled students, says pediatrician Nancy Murphy of the University of Utah School of Medicine, who wasn't involved in the study.

"We need to have better resources to take better care of these kids," she says.

The Power of Community

A local Santa Cruz, Calif., TV station began Saturday’s morning news with the announcement that American Idol contestant James Durbin would be returning to Santa Cruz on May 14 for a homecoming celebration after all. Considered a favorite by many, Durbin didn’t make it into the Top 3, where contestants are allowed to go home with Idol cameras along for the ride. Many past contestants were given homecoming parades and honored by local officials while surrounded by friends and family.

In the case of Durbin, a flood of emails to the FOX-TV headquarters, Santa Cruz government offices, the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce and more, prompted the show to make what they called “a rare exception.” Community involvement changed the rules of one of the most watched TV shows in the U.S. This change of heart nourished the people of Santa Cruz County, where I live, and the homecoming lifted the spirits of thousands who enjoyed the parade and music.

In community, we can accomplish seemingly impossible deeds when we share our experiences and envision together. When we come together as a connected community online and in person, the results can be empowering. Like many others, I have countless tasks that fill my days. I connect with other people here and there, at meetings and through emails, but much of what I do each day I do alone at my computer. Yet, to nourish my heart, I make time for community when my work is done and make it a point to gather together with family and others. It is then that the true color, texture and joy of life emerge through engaging conversations and various activities.

In his free e-book De-Stress Kit for the Changing Times HeartMath founder Doc Childre explains, “When people gather together to support each other, the energy of the collective multiplies the benefit to the individual.”
At the Institute of HeartMath (IHM), we cherish community and are committed to nurturing it, strengthening it, and always finding new ways of giving back to it. We believe we can best serve our local and global communities by staying actively involved in them, keeping pace with people’s changing needs and providing services to help people and community organizations navigate these changing times with less stress and more ease.

Part of my job at the Institute is being active in our online communities. I seek to bond not only with those who see the world as I do, but also those with differing viewpoints, so I can learn and grow. Each day, I do a HeartMath technique called “Heart Lock-in®” to connect with my heart’s intuition to find something meaningful to post. This fulfills part of my need to care and make a social connection with another person or a community of persons.

If you haven’t already seen IHM on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or My Kids!, pay me a visit whenever you like. You’ll also find new ideas for living life from the heart, including techniques like Heart Lock-in®, tools, quotes, upcoming events, activities, videos and opportunities for connecting in the heart with people from around the world. Come for the commentary and camaraderie, and join the conversation.

One more thing that means a lot to me which I’d like to share with you is the Community Tracker™. It is a web app at www.heartmath.org that monitors in real time how others in the world are faring. It’s kind of like a stethoscope on the heart of community, assessing how the collective is feeling over the previous 24 hours. The Community Tracker assesses Five Aspects of Well-Being, including physical vitality, emotional vitality and overall well-being. You can track your own moods and see how others are doing on the plotted trend lines. You can see where other “Trackers” reside – in your country, state or perhaps even your city. This helps me feel connected with others. Try it for yourself and see.

The Righteous Eviction of ‘Should’

Years of therapy and personal development elevated my sensitivity to the word “should” and its well intentioned but woefully misguided uses, or rather abuses in our culture. The beginning of “should” awareness came in my mid-twenties as I discovered the toxicity of my codependent ways. There is nothing more effective than mothering a toddler, while pregnant with another child, and going through a divorce to hurl you into the festering bowels of introspective reflection.

In hindsight, the obstacles to my sanity feel so obvious… I believed, with tragic sincerity, that the world, in its entirety, ebbed and flowed, according to three things:

1.) The magnitude of my “good-ness” as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, etc. – If the people were happy, then I was “good” and likewise, if the people were unhappy, it was clearly because I failed them.

2.) The strength of my commitment to “do” – I helped, volunteered, donated, hosted, coordinated, befriended, sustained, accompanied, advocated, endorsed, assisted, etc. myself nearly to death.

3.) The size of my rear end – I wish, like you can’t imagine, that this was a joke but it is the truth. As I moved into a more healthy mindset, my body came along for the ride. I lost about 60 pounds and felt more healthy, energized, and active than I had since early childhood. As summer came into bloom, I discovered a shocking truth… when it is hot outside, even the skinny me sweats!

This may sound insane (or not) but I realized that for YEARS when I went outside the whole sweating thing happened in my mind (and heart, and soul, and fear) because I was fat. What the hell type of self-inflation does it take for a reasonably intelligent woman to believe that her extra 60 pounds causes her to sweat, instead of the oppressive humidity and 97 degree heat of an August afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee.

Recovering from that disordered mentality, as you can imagine, required a sustained effort and a significant pool of resources – therapy, 12-step meetings, books, cash money, tears, family, mercy, and friends like you can’t imagine. Literally thousands of lessons and treasures live today, in me, from this transforming experience.

One of my favorite is the clarity-diffusing power of the word “should.” “Should” takes an otherwise simple statement and spreads it out, transforming a solid message into a string of words disconnected from action. Read these examples, then read them again substituting “should” for “will”:

Self-care - I will go to bed, so I can get 8 hours of sleep.

Family - I will leave work by 5, so I can get to my son’s soccer game.

Creativity - Painting helps me feel connected. I will find a class, so I can paint once a month.

Using “will” declares an ACTION. Using “should” doesn’t declare anything, except perhaps the awareness that action would bring you into alignment with your goals (and that you are not, in fact, acting). It’s far more inspiring to declare action instead of declaring awareness that action is required!

Earlier this week, a client whose goal is to lose weight said to me, “I know I should cut out the white bread and refined sugar. It’s just so hard.” Another client said, “The thing that makes me mad is that I don’t care what happens… but I know I should.” I said to both of these women, “I don’t know about this ‘should,’ tell me what it means to ‘should’ something.” This is what one of my best friends calls a “Christy-love her, hate her” moment.

To the first client I say, “You told me your goal is to lose 15 pounds. When I asked you what it would take to lose 15 pounds, you told me the biggest thing would be to stop eating bread and refined sugar. Today, you say that you know you “should” stop eating these two things. Does “should” mean you decided to eliminate those items from your meal plan? Or does “should” mean you decided it feels too overwhelming to eliminate both of those items this week, so you want my help to create a new strategy to reach your goal?”

The second client is even more simple. “I don’t know about this ‘should’… give me more information. You either care or you don’t. You either value the outcome or not. Do you want my help deciding if you care or do you already know, and you want my help figuring out what to do about it?”

A fragile ego is the hazard of fancying yourself fairly evolved. When I inadvertently wrote “should” twice in one paragraph yesterday, I stumbled up against my ego. I tell them and tell them about the “should” and why it sucks. Worse yet, the forbidden “should” appeared not on my blog, or in my monthly e-newsletter or some other outlet where the world could hold me to the fire. “Should,” the sneaky saboteur, flowed from my very fingertips onto the sacred pages of my journal. The one place where I can write with complete anonymity, where no one can find my dark side and help me expose it. The place where I MUST find the red flags and hold myself accountable. Candidly examining our most uncensored thoughts for holes, signs that an old message still plays in our heads, that creates authentic transformation.

Today, I’m putting this “should” on notice that it is evicted. It is not welcome here, in the space between my purpose and my actions, where confusion casts dangerous shadows.

The righteous eviction of should. That is one simple thing… we can all do.

Top 10 Heart Attack Symptoms You Might Ignore
By Melanie Haiken

Heart attacks don’t always strike out of the blue — there are many symptoms we can watch for in the days and weeks leading up to an attack. But the symptoms may not be the ones we expect. And they can be different in men and women, and different still in older adults. Last year, for example, a landmark study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Institute found that 95 percent of women who’d had heart attacks reported experiencing symptoms in the weeks and months before the attack — but the symptoms weren’t the expected chest pain, so they went unrecognized.

7 Heart Attack Signs Women — And Doctors — Often Miss

Don’t let that happen to you. Here, 10 heart symptoms you’re likely to ignore — and shouldn’t.

1. Indigestion or nausea
One of the most oft-overlooked signs of a heart attack is nausea and stomach pain. Symptoms can range from mild indigestion to severe nausea, cramping, and vomiting. Others experience a cramping-style ache in the upper belly. Women and adults over age 60 are more likely to experience this symptom and not recognize it as tied to cardiac health.

Most cases of stomach ache and nausea aren’t caused by a heart attack, of course. But watch out for this sign by becoming familiar with your own digestive habits; pay attention when anything seems out of the ordinary, particularly if it comes on suddenly and you haven’t been exposed to stomach flu and haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary.

2. Jaw, ear, neck, or shoulder pain
A sharp pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arm is an indicator of heart attack, but many people don’t experience heart attack pain this way at all. Instead, they may feel pain in the neck or shoulder area, or it may feel like it’s running along the jaw and up by the ear. Some women specifically report feeling the pain between their shoulder blades.

A telltale sign: The pain comes and goes, rather than persisting unrelieved, as a pulled muscle would. This can make the pain both easy to overlook and difficult to pinpoint. You may notice pain in your neck one day, none the next day, then after that it might have moved to your ear and jaw. If you notice pain that seems to move or radiate upwards and out, this is important to bring to your doctor’s attention.

3. Sexual dysfunction
Having trouble achieving or keeping erections is common in men with coronary artery disease, but they may not make the connection. Just as arteries around the heart can narrow and harden, so can those that supply the penis — and because those arteries are smaller, they may show damage sooner. One survey of European men being treated for cardiovascular disease found that two out of three had suffered from erectile dysfunction before they were ever diagnosed with heart trouble.

4. Exhaustion or fatigue
A sense of crushing fatigue that lasts for several days is another sign of heart trouble that’s all too often overlooked or explained away. Women, in particular, often look back after a heart attack and mention this symptom. More than 70 percent of women in last year’s NIH study, for example, reported extreme fatigue in the weeks or months prior to their heart attack.

The key here is that the fatigue is unusually strong — not the kind of tiredness you can power through but the kind that lays you flat out in bed. If you’re normally a fairly energetic person and suddenly feel sidelined by fatigue, a call to your doctor is in order.

5. Breathlessness and dizziness
When your heart isn’t getting enough blood, it also isn’t getting enough oxygen. And when there’s not enough oxygen circulating in your blood, the result is feeling unable to draw a deep, satisfying breath — the same feeling you get when you’re at high elevation. Additional symptoms can be light- headedness and dizziness. But sadly, people don’t attribute this symptom to heart disease, because they associate breathing with the lungs, not the heart.
In last year’s NIH study, more than 40 percent of women heart attack victims remembered experiencing this symptom. A common description of the feeling: “I couldn’t catch my breath while walking up the driveway.”

6. Leg swelling or pain
When the heart muscle isn’t functioning properly, waste products aren’t carried away from tissues by the blood, and the result can be edema, or swelling caused by fluid retention. Edema usually starts in the feet, ankles, and legs because they’re furthest from the heart, where circulation is poorer. In addition, when tissues don’t get enough blood, it can lead to a painful condition called ischemia. Bring swelling and pain to the attention of your doctor.

7. Sleeplessness, insomnia, and anxiety
This is an odd one doctors can’t yet explain. Those who’ve had heart attacks often remember experiencing a sudden, unexplained inability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the month or weeks before their heart attack. (Note: If you already experience insomnia regularly, this symptom can be hard to distinguish.)

Patients often report the feeling as one of being “keyed up” and wound tight; they remember lying in bed with racing thoughts and sometimes a racing heart. In the NIH report, many of the women surveyed reported feeling a sense of “impending doom,” as if a disaster were about to occur. If you don’t normally have trouble sleeping and begin to experience acute insomnia and anxiety for unexplained reasons, speak with your doctor.

8. Flu-like symptoms
Clammy, sweaty skin, along with feeling light-headed, fatigued, and weak, leads some people to believe they’re coming down with the flu when, in fact, they’re having a heart attack. Even the feeling of heaviness or pressure in the chest — typical of some people’s experience in a heart attack — may be confused with having a chest cold or the flu.

If you experience severe flu -like symptoms that don’t quite add up to the flu (no high temperature, for example), call your doctor or advice nurse to talk it over. Watch out also for persistent wheezing or chronic coughing that doesn’t resolve itself; that can be a sign of heart disease, experts say. Patients sometimes attribute these symptoms to a cold or flu, asthma, or lung disease when what’s happening is that poor circulation is causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs.

9. Rapid-fire pulse or heart rate
One little-known symptom that sometimes predates a heart attack is known as ventricular tachycardia, more commonly described as rapid and irregular pulse and heart rate. During these episodes, which come on suddenly, you feel as if your heart is beating very fast and hard, like you just ran up a hill — except you didn’t. “I’d look down and I could actually see my heart pounding,” one person recalled. It can last just a few seconds or longer; if longer, you may also notice dizziness and weakness.

Some patients confuse these episodes with panic attacks. Rapid pulse and heartbeat that aren’t brought on by exertion always signal an issue to bring to your doctor’s attention.

10. You just don’t feel like yourself
Heart attacks in older adults (especially those in their 80s and beyond, or in those who have dementia or multiple health conditions), can mimic many other conditions. But an overall theme heard from those whose loved ones suffered heart attacks is that in the days leading up to and after a cardiac event, they “just didn’t seem like themselves.”

A good rule of thumb, experts say, is to watch for clusters of symptoms that come on all at once and aren’t typical of your normal experience. For example, a normally alert, energetic person suddenly begins to have muddled thinking, memory loss, deep fatigue, and a sense of being “out of it.” The underlying cause could be something as simple as a urinary tract infection, but it could also be a heart attack. If your body is doing unusual things and you just don’t feel “right,” don’t wait. See a doctor and ask for a thorough work-up.

And if you have any risk factors for cardiac disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or family history of heart disease, make sure the doctor knows about those issues, too.

US Medical Students are Rejecting Kidney Careers

Kidney disease affects 1 in 9 US adults, and by 2020 more than 750,000 Americans will be on dialysis or awaiting kidney transplant. Despite this growing health problem, every year fewer US medical students adopt nephrology as a career, according to a review appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

The review by ASN Workforce Committee Chair Mark G. Parker, MD (Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Maine Medical Center) and colleagues highlights the declining interest of medical students in the US in nephrology. The authors propose ways to increase interest in nephrology so the US trains a sufficient number of kidney professionals to provide the growing demands of this public health crisis.

Dr. Parker explains that, "in medical school, students primarily work with hospitalized kidney patients, whose care is the most complex and daunting. And many students believe nephrologists to be overworked and underpaid." Nephrology is actually higher paid than a number of specialties, including rheumatology and hospital medicine.1 In a survey completed by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) in 2010, 95% of nephrology fellows indicated they are happy with their career choice.2

Although talented international medical graduates have historically contributed substantially to the US nephrology workforce, it is increasingly difficult for international medical graduates to obtain visas for the US, and this compounds the problem created by decreasing US medical students' interest in nephrology (see also Kidney Disease).

"We must work together to find a way to develop, improve, and market what we know to be a rewarding, stimulating, and fulfilling career," said ASN Councilor Bruce Molitoris, MD, FASN, chair of the ASN's Task Force on Increasing Interest in Nephrology Careers (Indiana University School of Medicine, Nephrology).

ASN has begun to implement strategies to inspire interest in nephrology among US medical graduates. Dr. Parker explains that "ASN will help provide stimulating experiences for trainees, nurture outstanding educators, and use social media to encourage the next generation of students to learn about the importance of kidney disease and the satisfaction many nephrologists derive from improving kidney care."

ASN will improve efforts to recruit women and minorities, currently underrepresented in the nephrology physician workforce. Gains were made by females, Hispanics, and African Americans entering nephrology fellowships from 2002 to 2009. However, the increases by Hispanic and African American nephrology fellows still trailed gains made by other medical subspecialties.

Yoga and Meditation Help Dispel Fears

“Fear is the mind –killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” –Frank Herbert

Fear is a natural part of life. It is what drives us to our reactions to everyday existence. It can save us in moments of immediate danger and motivate us to stand firm in face of a threat. But it can also freeze us into passivity in the face of overwhelming harm. When confronted by our fears, the natural inclination is to take one of the following actions:

Run away
Attempt to control it
Try to suppress it
Resist it in any way possible

Instead of avoiding your fears, you need to take off your blinders and face them. You will still want to run, control, suppress, or resist them; after you have seen what the monsters look like, however, you just might discover that they aren’t such a big deal. The important thing is to identify your fears. Then, using your yoga practice and meditation, you can observe them and work to dissolve them.

I once had a student who had broken her neck in a riding accident many years before she began to study yoga with me. Going upside down, even in the Downward Facing Dog pose, was emotionally challenged with fear. Even though she was a Physical Therapist by profession and knew that her neck had healed and strengthened properly, she would not consider doing a headstand. Meanwhile, her life and relationship was at a standstill and she was afraid to make a decision fearing it would be the wrong one.

One day, after a few years of studying yoga and practicing meditation, she came to class and announced that she would like to do a headstand. Having already prepared her body to take this step, I assisted her in lifting into a headstand against the wall. She was surprised and thrilled as to how easy it all happened and how easily she was able to balance there. Following that experience she returned home, left her job, ended her relationship and successfully opened her own physical therapy office. To this day she credits that headstand with helping her to overcome her limiting fears.

The majority of people live in fear of the unknown future. This may be fear of future failure, success, commitment, disapproval, a person, or group of other people, or even fear of looking at ourselves and seeing who we really are. In actuality, it is not the unknown we fear, but losing what we know, what we have, what we are attached to in our lives. Spiritual teacher J. Krishnamurti says that “you are afraid of discovering what you are, afraid of being at a loss, afraid of the pain which might come into being when you have lost or have not gained or have no more pleasure.”

These fears limit your ability to flow with the ever-changing world. These fears stand in the way of actualizing your true potential. It’s not easy to face your fears, especially when you have set up an elaborate network of denial, subterfuge, and escape that has kept you dancing around your mental monsters. To help face down your fears, take a moment to list the things you are afraid of on a piece of paper. It might look something like this:

Debilitating illness
Loss of a loved one
Pain and disfigurement
Nuclear war

You might find that in making this list the little fears refuse to surface—things such as locking your keys in the car, getting a speeding ticket, or being late for a meeting. More than likely, you have a list of minor worries hanging around the backroom of your consciousness, draining energy and feeding into the big ones we all dread might happen. A good example of this is taking a minor health problem—say, a sore throat—and letting your imagination feed into your fear of having something more serious, such as throat cancer. Rather than dwell on these negative thoughts, use your meditation practice to calm your mind and emotions, so you can see how you are just making up stories that have nothing to do with the truth.

Hidden Fat in Thin People?

This friend of mine, let’s call her M, is shaped like a French bean.

Being Hardy to her Laurel hasn’t always been easy. At a clothes store, M would check out Tees from the Kids section (some of them were actually loose!), while I was advised to try a men’s shirt, maybe? The sizes reversed over coffee: mine was always small and black without sugar, her large cappuccino came with peaks of whipped cream.

Then one day, my 31-year-old friend collapsed.

The diagnosis: heart disease.

It did not make sense. Wasn’t M a copybook case of the low-risk group? Vegetarian, non-smoker, teetotaler, young, pretty relaxed and quite slim?

That’s when I learned a new term: tofi

‘Thin on the outside, fat inside.’ That was M.

What the doctor told me next was quite surprising: Some slim people carry around proportionately more fat inside them than Sumo wrestlers! That happens when they overeat, thinking they need not bother. But the reality is that a tofi has more reason to worry than others.

The culprit is visceral fat. It may not show, but it settles deep inside you, way, way beneath the skin, squashing your vital organs, choking your blood vessels, capillaries, tissues, cells.

Scary, is it not?

(Learn more about visceral fat by reading here.)

So, when the dude at the burger counter asks, ‘Would you like fries with that?,’ challenge yourself to perform the world’s toughest exercise: shake your head.

Inside E R I  Jams

Presenting, promoting and preserving the artistic culture of our city along with the works of independent filmmakers, writers, artists and musicians in the Erie area.

Fitness Centers

American Gym & Tanning Center
4122 Main Street, Erie
(814) 898-1496

Around the Clock Health & Fitness
4960 Iroquois Avenue, Erie
(814) 898-2442

Best Fitness
2147 West 12th St # 5, Erie
(814) 453-2378

Curves

Erie, PA - West
1511 W. 38th Street
(814) 866-8668

Erie, PA - East
3326 Buffalo Road
(814) 897-9988

Millcreek TWP, PA - West
3330 W. 26th Street, Ste. 18-19
(814) 833-2533

Harborcreek TWP/North East TWP, PA
10170-C W. Main Rd.
(814) 725-1142

Fairview/Girard, PA
141 Randall Avenue
(814) 774-8600

Edinboro, PA
220 W. Plum Street, Ste. 575
(814) 734-9945

Corry, PA
41 N. Center Street
(814) 663-7000

Executive Personal Fitness
1416 Liberty Street, Erie
(814) 874-5000

Family First Sports Park
8155 Oliver Road, Erie
(814) 866-2429
 

Family First Athletic Club
8155 Oliver Road, Erie
(814) 866-5425

Foundation Martial Arts
3503 State Street, Erie
(814) 454-5425

Hamot Wellness Center
300 State St # 107, Erie
(814) 877-7030

Jazzercise
20 Millcreek Sq, Erie
(814) 340-1202

Joe's Gym
4319 West Ridge Road, Erie
(814) 833-3727

Nautilus Fitness Center
2312 W 15th St # 4, Erie
(814) 459-3033

North Coast Health Club
2508 Peach Street, Erie
(814) 455-0526

Olympic Fitness & Tanning
1206 East 38th Street, Erie
(814) 825-7084

Planet Fitness
1950 Rotunda Drive, Erie
(814) 866-0110

Power Personal Training
1119 Spring Valley Drive, Erie
(814) 453-6000

Physiic
5366 Cider Mill Road, Erie
(888) 240-4310

Pennbriar Tennis & Health
100 Pennbriar Drive, Erie
(814) 825-8111

Snap Fitness
2249 West 38th Street, Erie
(814) 833-7333

W Blanks Fitness Center
2315 West 12th Street, Erie
(814) 454-0975

Weight Watchers
2147 West 12th Street, Erie
(800) 516-3535

YMCA

County YMCA
12285 YMCA Drive, Edinboro
(814) 734-5700

Downtown YMCA
31 West 10th Street, Erie
(814) 452-3261

Eastside YMCA
2101 Nagle Road, Erie
(814) 899-9622

Glenwood Park YMCA
3727 Cherry Street, Erie
(814) 868-0867

Camp Sherwin (Summer Camp Only)
8600 West Lake Road, Lake City
(814) 882-4939

Massage Therapists

Ambridge Rose Spa & Salon
3344 West 26th Street, Erie
(814) 836-9898

Erie Massage Therapy Center
1612 West Grandview Boulevard, Erie
(814) 866-6353

Jockey Health Club
2677 Peach Street, Erie
(814) 455-5509

Lecom Medical Fitness & Wellness
5401 Peach Street, Erie
(814) 868-7800

Panache Salon & Spa
3123 West 12th Street, Erie
(814) 838-3333

Satin Health Spa
2117 Peach Street, Erie
(814) 456-0781

Shear Delight
4348 Iroquois Avenue # A, Erie
(814) 899-1877

Stephen's Massage Therapy
(Stephen Trohoske)
The Urban Professional Building 306 West 11th St. Erie
(814) 392-2933

YOGA

Go Yoga

186 Gay Road, North East
(814) 440-5722

Physiic
5366 Cider Mill Road, Erie

(888) 240-4310 

Plasha Yoga
10 East 5th Street, Erie
(814) 864-1114

Satya Yoga & Wellness
1063 W. 7th Street, Erie
(814) 314-9367

Yoga Erie
2560 West 8th Street, Erie
(814) 520-6998

Freezing Fresh Blueberries

While blueberries are available year round, they are least expensive when they are in season in your area. Take advantage of your local crop year round, by freezing blueberries. That's right, blueberries freeze very well.

To freeze blueberries: Do not wash them. Lay a single layer of blueberries on a cookie sheet (or flat pan) and freeze them. Once frozen, packed the berries into containers or freezer storage bags. This method makes it is easy to grab a handful of berries from the freezer for pancakes, smoothies, etc. Wash them before using.