So, I'm kinda concerned about this whole swine flu thing, only cause it's spreading so rapidly and I am always concerned when the CDC steps in to declare an emergency. Well, in today's very special FML (that's Eff My Life, for you acronym-challenged readers) edition, I went to my weekly chiropractor appt today, only to find out he had just come back from a vacation in...Mexico! He apparently cut his trip short and the flu was no where near where he was staying, but he made me sanitize myself profusely anyway. So... everyone line up as I will be allocating my stuff generously when I "go meet Jesus" (as my friend Andy so eloquently and sensitively put it). Sorry, my Mac and CD collection have already been claimed. But I have a fabulous J.Crew collection that is still up for grabs! Should I not be joking about this..?
Swine Flu goodies (I know, wrong choice of word):
Dr. Gupta's Swine Flu Q&A
Tracking the swine flu on Google Maps
CDC page on swine flu
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
FML: Swine Flu edition!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Gross of the Day: Fir Tree Growth in Lung
Um, yes I did say "Fir tree growth in lung." And yes, I am being totally literal.
WARNING: Picture is a bit gross/graphic. Be warned before you decide to 'Click for more' ..
A five-centimeter fir tree has been found in the lung of a man who complained he had a strong pain in his chest and was coughing blood...Doctors x-rayed his chest and found a tumor in one of the lungs. Suspecting cancer, they made a decision to perform biopsy, but when they cut the tissue, they were amazed to see green needles in the cut...It is obvious that a five-centimeter branch is too large to be inhaled or swallowed, doctors say. They suggest that the patient might have inhaled a small bud, which then started to grow inside his body." (mosnews.com)
Blerg, yo. I'm a hypochondriac, and this bit of news has just added itself onto my list of possible illnesses :x
Monday, April 6, 2009
Stop smoking and you'll make this child stop crying
Anti-smoking ads are typically supposed to unnerve you and tug at your heartstrings. After all, without some kind of powerful effect, are you really going to consider giving up an addictive habit you've been harboring for months/years? The latest anti-smoking ad put out by the NYC Department of Health has been generating a lot of heat since it first started airing 2 weeks ago. It's of a little boy who gets separated from his mom and starts crying. The tagline is, "If this is how your child feels after losing you for a minute, just imagine if they lost you for life.” The reason for the controversy lies in its exploitativeness, (I know that's not a word...)- the boy is young, and I don't care how precocious of a child actor you are, it doesn't look like there's acting involved here. The boy is genuinely scared that he just lost his mommy. Is it worth causing trauma to this little child, albeit only for a few seconds as the makers of the ad contend, to induce real emotion and make the emotional punch of the ad that much greater?
It seems to be working, in just the amount of feedback it's generated so far. I don't pay much attention to commercials, but even this one caught my eye when I first saw it. And unlike other anti-smoking ads (like the guy with the hole in his throat or the fingerless lady), you have no idea where this one is going til the end. Does this ad offend you as it has for a lot of people? See for yourself:
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Treating Back Pain: To Ice or Not Ice?
Despite my penchant for tween things, I'm kind of an old soul trapped in an 80-year old's body. Back when I was a teen, we were moving houses, and even though I had hardly lifted a heavy box, I somehow threw my back out. It was like the worst pain ever: me crumpled over unable to straighten up, for like 3 days. My parents actually didn't believe that I had thrown my back out (what 16 year old does that anyway??), and I totally didn't want to go to a hospital, so I kinda rode out the pain bedridden for a couple of days. Well well. My back hasn't been the same since, and though it doesn't bother me most of the time, there are certain periods when the pain comes back to haunt me.
Which brings us to 2.5 weeks ago, when I almost fell on a slippery spot. I was so proud of myself because all of my reflexes kicked in and I totally saved myself from completely wiping out. But in the process, I pulled something because I've been in pain ever since. I've been seeing a chiropractor, I just saw a physical therapist, and before you tell me I should be seeing a doctor, PEOPLE, baby steps! I usually take care of my body by pounding the Advil and drifting off to sleep for a couple of hours.
But I have some tips on how to handle back pain if you are ever experiencing it:
1) Ice ice baby. To ice or to heat? The answer is simple. Ice your injury/pain ASAP. Wrap frozen veggies, an ice pack, or ice cubes in ziploc bag in a towel and ice no more than 20 minutes at a time.
2) If the pain lasts for longer than 3 days, then heating is the way to go. Heating pads are more for a chronic pain, so ice first, then resort to heat. BTW, heating pads are awesome.
3) See someone. Don't be like me and hope to ride it out. I'm paying for it big time, 10 years later. Acupuncturist, chiropractor, physical therapist, doctor. Someone is better than no one.
4) Don't be afraid to take Advil/ibuprofen/Alleve/Tylenol. I went for days without taking anything, and today I finally popped 2 Advils and felt less pain. Just don't overdue it obviously. I don't want to be responsible for your addiction to painkillers.
5) Good posture helps. Stand straight, walk straight, sit straight (use one of those back support pillows for your chair), and lie down straight when going to sleep. It helps.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
C-c-check It Out: Daily Plate
Sure, it doesn't feel like winter is going to be passing by any time soon. But rather than continuing through hibernation mode (staying indoors, eating like a fattycakes), why not get a head-start in getting back into shape?
Check out The Daily Plate. It helps you keep track of what you eat, and helps you find the ideal calorie consumption per day for yourself, depending on your current weight, height, age, etc.
I've been on it for a few days, as have fellow LiB editors Jorge and Jen. The way I see it (get ready for a nerdy analogy), it's like playing a RPG game .. but it's real life! You have your food ration points, and the benefits?? Your health!
But seriously, I highly recommend people to check it out. And for you iPhone users, you can download the free app to help you keep track of what you eat via iPhone.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Headline That Made Me Want To KMS
This morning, whilst scanning through my usual RSS feeds, CNN managed to throw another news curveball my way, by means of a catchy headline: Surgeons remove healthy kidney through donor's vagina.
Um, first off OUCH! Secondly, the article contains many WTF moments:
-"Removing the kidney through a natural opening should hasten the patient's recovery and provide a better cosmetic result," Montgomery said. (cnn.com)
Cosmetic result?? What does that even mean? OUCH!
-"If you asked our patient, she said it was like getting a tooth removed." (cnn.com)
OWWW! What a horrible analogy. Let me go die now.
*Writer's note: KMS = kill myself
Monday, December 8, 2008
Get Fat or Settle!
Most people think that the US is the fattest nation in the world, but that is a myth. Australia is actually the heaviest nation per citizen. A report done in June showed that 26 percent of Australians are considered to be obese, narrowly edging the United States' 25 percent.
The US has never taken finishing second quietly so if you want to help the cause of increasing the US's obesity rate by 1 percentage point, here is a link to the 272 highest calorie fast food items. The top choice is White Castle's Chocolate Shake in the Louisville region with a whopping 1680 calories.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Google Flu Trends
Google, the search engine.
Gmail.
Google Maps.
Google Earth.
Google Flu Trends?!?
In a surefire sign that Google is taking over the world, Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the Google empire, launched Google Flu Trends, which is supposed to act as an early warning system of flu outbreaks. Not surprisingly, it turns out that before going to the doctor, most people like to google "flu symptoms" or of the like as ways of self-diagnosis. Multiply that by millions of people, analyze the regions where the searches are coming from, and you get a predicting system that may be able to detect flu outbreaks up to 10 days before the Center for Disease Control may be able to do. The service will analyze the keyword searches as they come in, and create maps and graphs of the country to show where the flu is spreading. Well, that's the ideal theory behind it, anyways.
Um. I don't know what you all think about this idea, but I find it fascinating. Mostly cause I find search engine results fascinating. The editors of Life in Boxes keep tabs on how you find our site, and sometimes, the funniest things lead to our blog (search term: "town bordering Ridgefield, NJ"). To be able to use the data that people are entering to help predict and ultimately curb disease outbreaks? That's pretty cool. Imagine what else we can do with that kind of collective data; I feel like we're only at the beginning of major things. Ok, so I know this just all SCREAMS of violating privacy issues or whatever (idk, do you really care?), but honestly, nothing you do is private anyway. We might as well try to do some good with the technology that allows us to.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
One of my favorite all time films is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I mean, besides the fact that I think that director Michael Gondry is awesome, think about it: erasing bad memories of an ex or someone you are trying to forget .. who wouldn't want to do that, especially after a horrible break-up?
Well in recent developments, with experiments involving lab rats, turns out a group of scientists believe that fiction can become reality:
In both mice and people, this enzyme is often referred to as the "memory molecule" because of its key role in facilitating brain cell communication -- especially people's ability to learn and retain information. To hone in on the specific workings of CaMKII, Tsien and his team first developed a "chemical-genetic method" that enabled them to instantly turn the protein "on" or "off" among mice intentionally bred to overproduce the molecule. After exposing the mice to emotionally powerful stimulations, such as a mild shock to their paws, the scientists then observed how well or poorly the animals subsequently recalled the particular trauma as their brain's expression of CaMKII was manipulated up and down. When the brain was made to overproduce CaMKII at the exact moment the mouse was prodded to retrieve the traumatic memory, the memory wasn't just blocked, it appeared to be fully erased. (news.yahoo.com)
--
Would YOU want to have certain memories erased from your brain?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
How Much Are You Burning?
One night, after playing basketball for three hours in what could only be described as a sauna, I asked a friend how many calories we had burned. He said "Probably around 200." I was shocked. I've heard that typically a person loses about 100 calories per mile they run, so I guess he figured we ran about 2 miles, ergo, 200 calories burned. 200 calories seemed very little considering the amount of sweat running down my face. I did some investigating and found that the truth is I burn approximately 600 calories for every hour of full court basketball I play. This is roughly the same amount as I would burn from running an hour at a 5 mile per hour pace. Now that's more like it. Let's see how much I burn per hour in other things...
Blogging: 109 Cal
Bowling: 218 Cal
Settlers of Catan (Board Games): 109 Cal
Eating (sitting): 109 Cal
Football (tackle): 653 Cal
Golf (driving range): 218 Cal
Golf (miniature): 218 Cal
Guitar (sitting) 145 Cal
Reading Baby Korean Book (sitting): 94 Cal
Softball: 363 Cal
Table Tennis: 290 Cal
Tennis (Singles): 581 Cal
Tennis (Doubles): 435 Cal
This is how I spend most of time. If you would like to calculate how much you burn per your favorite activities go to http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
7 Super Snacks To Save Your Day
I'm not really a believer in medicine. No, I'm not a Scientologist, but I don't like taking pills (for some reason, I have trouble swallowing them), nor do I like the idea of taking the liquid form of medicines. Not to mention that I abhor the taste of medicines. They taste funny.
I guess if anything, I'm more of a believer in natural remedies. They taste a lot better (well, not all) and more natural. Granted not all people are fans and would much rather prefer the taste of their icky FDA-approved meds, but here's a list of 7 Super Snacks from Yahoo! Health that can help you out with certain bodily problems or functions.
1. When You're Stressed...
Eat This:
1 Cup of Low-Fat Yogurt or 2 Tbsp of Mixed Nuts
Scientists in Slovakia gave people 3 grams each of two amino acids — lysine and arginine — or a placebo and asked them to deliver a speech. Blood measurements of stress hormones revealed that the amino acid–fortified public speakers were half as anxious during and after the speech as those who took the placebo. Yogurt is one of the best food sources of lysine; nuts pack tons of arginine.
Not That!
A Can of Soda
A study from the American Journal of Public Health found that people who drink 20 ounces of soda daily are three times more likely to be depressed and anxious, compared with those who drink less.
2. When You Want to Increase Your Metabolism...
Drink This:
Green Tea
Catechins, the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, are known to stoke your metabolism, making it burn hotter and torch more calories. A study by Japanese researchers found that participants who consumed 690 milligrams of catechins from green tea daily had significantly lower body-mass indexes and smaller waist measurements than tea-totalers (i.e., they avoid the stuff).
Not That!
Nothing
Skipping meals lets your body's calorie-burning furnace go cold. Spread out snacks throughout the day. Try a cup of yogurt with fresh fruit or almonds between breakfast and lunch, and a hard-boiled egg or hummus with vegetables in the afternoon.
3. When You're Low on Energy...
Eat This:
A Handful of Trail Mix
Raisins provide potassium, which your body uses to convert sugar into energy. Nuts stock your body with magnesium, which boosts metabolism and improves nerve and muscle function. (When magnesium levels are low, your body produces more lactic acid — the same fatigue-byproduct that makes your muscles ache at the end of a workout.)
Not That!
Espresso-Based Drinks
Sure, the caffeine will perk you up, but the spike in blood sugar that follows — with anywhere from 16 grams (latte) to 59 grams (white chocolate mocha) of sugar coursing through your veins — will ultimately launch your own personal energy crisis. Stick to brewed coffee with one packet of sugar, max.
4. When You Need a Brain Boost...
Eat This:
Blueberries
Antioxidants in blueberries help protect the brain from free-radical damage, which could decrease your risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and improve cognitive processing. Wild blueberries, if you can find them (or grow them!), have even more brain-boosting antioxidants than the cultivated variety.
Not That!
Ice Cream
Sugary foods incite sudden surges of blood glucose that, in the long term, cause sugar highs and lows, and make you as distractable as a toddler in the Disney store. And foods high in saturated fat can clog blood vessels and slow the flow of nutrients and blood to the brain.
5. When You're Under the Weather...
Drink This:
Ginseng Tea, Hot or Iced
In a Canadian study, people who took 400 milligrams of ginseng a day had 25 percent fewer colds than people who popped a placebo. Ginseng helps kill invading viruses by increasing the body's production of key immune cells.
Not That!
Caffeinated Beverages and Energy Drinks
Excessive caffeine messes with your sleep schedule and sabotages key immune agents. And insufficient sleep opens the door to colds, upper respiratory infections, and other ills. What's more, caffeine can dehydrate you, and hydration is vital during illness: Fluids not only transport nutrients to the problem zones, but also carry away toxins.
6. When You Need to Wake Up and Go...
Eat This:
Eggs and Whole-Wheat Toast
Eggs are a great source of protein, and having them for breakfast sets you up for a perfect day of eating. Saint Louis University researchers found that people who eat eggs for breakfast consume 264 fewer calories the rest of the day than those who eat bagels and cream cheese.
Not That!
Bagel and Cream Cheese
At 500 calories and 20 grams of fat, this deli disaster is one of the worst ways to start your day. Sixty grams of fast-burning carbohydrates will cause a dip in energy and a spike in hunger, long before lunchtime. The same goes for croissants, danish, donuts, and pancakes.
7. When You Want to Get ''In the Mood''...
Eat This:
Dark Chocolate
The cocoa in chocolate contains stimulants that increase your body's sensitivity. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, a chemical that can give you a slight natural high. And Italian researchers found that women who often eat chocolate have a higher sex drive than those who don't. Make sure your chocolate contains at least 60 percent cacao.
Not That!
The Third Glass of Wine
The alcohol in wine affects your prefrontal cortex, which can decrease inhibition and up your sexual appetite. But only for the first glass or two. Beyond that, the toxic affects of alcohol in your system take over and are as likely to make you sleepy as they are to make you sexy. The more pouring, the more snoring.
(from Yahoo! Health)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
20 Healthy Foods < $1
One of my favorite books of all time has got to be The Joy of Cooking. Why, you ask? Because a) it's useful for any and every occasion, b) every time I read it, I learn something new, c) cooking is freaking fun! I love going to supermarkets with a cooking mission, trusty cookbook in cart.
Anyway, one thing that rocks about cooking is that it's usually a lot cheaper than eating out, and that it makes you more aware of what you are consuming (thus hopefully leading you to eat more healthy).
For all those who share my interest in being a [healthy] foodie, here's a list of The 20 Healthiest Foods for Under $1:
1. Oats
2. Eggs
3. Kale
4. Potatoes
5. Apples
6. Nuts
7. Bananas
8. Garbanzo Beans
9. Broccoli
10. Watermelon
11. Wild Rice
12. Beets
13. Butternut Squash
14. Whole Grain Pasta
15. Sardines
16. Spinach
17. Tofu
18. Lowfat Milk
19. Pumpkin Seeds
20. Coffee
(from divinecaroline.com)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
You Might Be Afraid of Laughter
Fear of Laughter Nothing To Joke About, Research Shows
The title of this article seems like something that would appear on the ticker in Sim City along with "Half of sims agree the other half is wrong." Gelotophobia is the fear of being laughed at and afflicts 14 percent of Americans according to psychologist William Ruch from the University of Zurich. Ruch surveyed over 20,000 individuals in 75 countries and found that geletophobia affects anywhere between 2 and 30 percent of a country's population.
A typical gelotophobe could hear a stranger's laugh and think it is aimed at him. In an extreme case this could provoke breaking out in sweat, heart palpitations, or simply freezing up. 'So, yes, they would not be behaving
properly,' Ruch said.
Whatever happened to having a sense of humor?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Body piercings are infectious...
and like not in a good way. In what might be a DUH entry, the NY Times blogged about the complications of body piercings, and how 25% of body piercings in places other than the ear lead to infections, swelling, bleeding, and even hospital admission in extreme cases. Researchers said that the growing popularity of body piercings could “place a significant burden on health services for many years,” which I find to be a stretch of a statement, but hey, who am I to argue with data.
On a related note, I think our readers have been enjoying our attempts at "30 things to do before 30" posts (here are: Jorge's, Yuri's, Mine, Julia's). I didn't mention in mine that THE one thing I wanted to do before 30 (heck, before 16 if my mom had let me) was get a belly piercing. Well, I did end up doing it the summer of my junior year in college, and I LOVED it. A couple of months later though, it got infected and eventually closed up, but what's worse is that it left a raised scar in its place. Which, if I want to get rid of, I'll have to get some type of steroid injections directly on it for like 6 months or something crazy painful like that. Um, I think I can live with the scar.
But when that first happened, I cried. A lot. My roommate at the time, Stella, could tell you, I was kinda inconsolable about it. The very first thing on my 30 before 30 to do list that I actually managed to do, and the thing turned out to be a failure. I still get sad when I see all these hoochie mamas and their belly piercings, oh how I wish to be one!! But uh, I guess this study makes me feel a tad better? That I'm not the only one who suffered in the name of body piercing? Or not, whatever. Now onto my next venture, I'm getting a nose piercing (NOT a ring!!) someday. Because, you know, I never learn from my mistakes. =P
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wisdom Teeth Extraction: What to Expect
I respect Doctors of all types. I always felt there was an art to their craft. They seem to have a deft touch with their instruments that separates them from the rest of us. This was until I had two of my wisdom teeth extracted on Wednesday. There is nothing graceful about having your wisdom teeth extracted.
Pre Procedure
While a dentist can often extract your wisdom teeth, my bottom right wisdom tooth seemed difficult to extract so I was referred to an oral surgeon. My appointment was at 3:30 and after a couple of questions about my medical history from the assistant, I was in a chair by 3:45. My surgeon was old, about 65. This sort of scared me because I wanted to be sure he wasn't going to pass out in the middle of the surgery (RIP Jorge- Died when the oral surgeon dropped the drill in his face). However, he had a good sense of humor as was evident when he explained to that there's a chance that removing my lower right tooth might cause temporary/permanent nerve damage, but there was nothing we could do about it. Let me repeat that, extracting your lower wisdom teeth can cause permanent nerve damage along your jawline/lower lip! Pretty scary thing to hear 5 minutes before you're about to get one taken out. No time to think about it by then, four or five shots of anesthetics and 15 minutes get my mouth feeling pretty numb.
Procedure
The tools used for the surgery were a drill, dental forceps, and small variations of a pick ax. My lower wisdom tooth was the first to be extracted. It was drilled, pushed, and pulled for a good 25 minutes. I could tell it was not easy because the surgeon kept giving that "WTF?" look as he persistently tried to jar my tooth loose. Eventually, he was able to remove it and later told me it was toughest one he had removed all year. My upper wisdom tooth took a fraction of the time. A couple of smacks, a forceful pull, and presto. My wounds were stitched and I was done by 4:40.
Post Procedure
After the teeth were out, a piece of gauze was placed in my mouth to stop the bleeding. I was given a long list of what to do and what not to do. Replace the gauze every two hours. Take prescribed anti-inflammatory medicine every four hours, prescribed antibacterial medicine every six hours. I was told I couldn't eat anything solid or hot for the first couple of days and nothing spicy for a week. I was also told to not exercise for a week (fat chance) and to rinse the are with salt water a couple of times a day.
For about two hours afterwards I'm thinking this is a piece of cake. Why do people complain so much when they go through this? Then the anesthetics wore off. It is painful and highly uncomfortable. It adequately feels like part of your gums was torn off. A piece of gauze in your mouth, the taste of blood, and not being able to close your mouth correctly are quite a nuisance. I hate taking anything for pain relief, but at this point I took two Tylenols and that seemed to do the trick.
The next day wasn't bad. No pain to be reported and the bleeding had stopped the night before so thankfully no gauze! However, it became clear that eating real food was not an option. I tried nibbling a slice of pizza but even that was too much work. Since the extraction my diet consists of mostly juice. My most hardy meals have been mashed potatoes sprinkled with parmesan and a bowl of cream of wheat. My plan is to resume eating normal foods tomorrow and basketball by Sunday.
Overall the process is mostly annoying. If you're planning to get yours extracted I highly recommend you do. Julia asked me what's the worse that can happen if you don't. The answers are gum infection that can spread to the cheek and neck, pressure pain, cyst formation, etc... Also, the longer you wait to get your wisdom teeth extracted, the harder they are to remove. What I'm most happy about is no nerve damage! Good luck to you all going through this or those who will go through this.
More info provided by WebMd.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Allergies-Galore! And Then Some ..
Now that spring is finally here, allergies are also in full swing. As a fellow allergified victim, I'm probably at my all-time low around this time of the year, with constant sneezing, congestion, mucus, boogers, phlegm .. you name it, I've got it. But really, what does all that sniffling and snorting really mean? What does your body want from you? And what can you do to remedy it?
If you’re congested, your snuffling and snorting are typically the result of mucus blocking the flow of air in your nose, says David Brodner, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Boca Raton, Florida, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Flushing with a saline rinse can clear excess mucus that comes with a common cold or seasonal allergies, says Melissa Pynnonen, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. Several brands of saline rinse are available at drugstores, or mix up your own saline with eight ounces of warm water and one-quarter teaspoon salt. Put half of the solution in each nostril using a syringe or nasal spray bottle. It’ll flow out of the opposite nostril. Repeat on the other side, and then blow your nose. (msnbc.com)
For other odd gurgles, cracks, and growls coming from your body, check out this health feature from the Today show to decode what your body's sounds are trying to tell you.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
To Flouride or Not to Flouride?
British sink their teeth into debate over flouride
So my friend Vicki sent me this article last week, and I thought it was hilarious. Probably cause most of the US actively practice water flouridation (67% of American communities, to be exact) that we don't think twice about it, but some people in the UK are genuinely upset about the possibility of introducing flouride into their water. I see both sides of the argument, as nationalizing flouidation will cost the UK roughly $80 million over the next 3 years. But uh, as for it being a "fundamental human rights question," as John Graham, an opponent and a member of the National Pure Water Association, thinks it is, I think that's taking it a little bit to the extreme. I don't know, who am I to say that he's being ridiculous (but just a bit, no??), but this whole debate is very interesting.
Here are some more facts about water flouridation, courtesy of Wiki:
- 42 of the 50 largest US states have flouridated water
- in US cities with a population over 50,000 people, it costs $0.31/person, per year to have water flouridation
- 10% of the population of the UK and Spain receive flouridated water
- 70.5% of the population of Chile receive flouridated water
- high levels of flouride intake has been associated with bone weakening and even bone cancer (though evidence is considered weak)
- the growing use of bottled water over tap/drinking water has caused some bottlers such as Dannon to add flouride to their water
Friday, January 25, 2008
Dannon sued over false advertising claims
A couple of days ago I was all set to write a post raving about my favorite yogurt, Dannon's Activia, prune flavor. I know, prune?? But seriously, it doesn't even taste like old, dried up prunes you know and hate, it tastes like berries or a little slice of heaven in your mouth. And it's creamy, and delicious, and it's good for your digestive tract! Hold up. But is it really??
A proposed class action suit was filed on Wednesday in CA, accusing Dannon of mounting a false advertising campaign that claims its Activia yogurt has probiotic health benefits that other yogurts do not, convincing consumers to pay more for Activia than what they would for other yogurt brands. The lawsuit states that Dannon's own studies are inconclusive in supporting its own claims that Activia is scientifically proven to have health benefits. Meaning? Activia probably isn't doing anything more for your digestive tract than any other yogurt, and suckers like me are paying more for it, thinking it does. In my defense, I just like the taste of it more than anything. But I know lots of other people eat it because they believe in its health benefits, and that's where they're wrong, and paying the price for it.
The lawsuit, if won, would reimburse all U.S. purchasers of Activia, Activia Lite, and DanActive, and demands that Dannon embark on a 'corrective' advertising campaign. This will be interesting to see played out, as Activia and DanActive are huge money makers for the company, expected to bring in 40% of Dannon's yogurt business in '08.
Monday, January 14, 2008
[Feature] Feeling Cold and Miserable
The editors at Life in Boxes care for the overall well-being of our readers. I mean, the weather is pretty unpredictable nowadays; last week had temperatures up to a glorious 66°F .. only to drop down to a high of 34°F today. With such a huge drop in weather conditions, it’s no surprise that you’re starting to feel a bit light-headed and overwhelmed with cough attacks! But before you decide to man it up and rely solely on your oh-so-strong antibodies to pull you through an oncoming cold, why not find out if you’re really sick or not? Here are the top illnesses/infections to look out for.
The Common Cold: Pretty common, pretty annoying
The common cold is a group of symptoms in the upper respiratory tract caused by over 200 different viruses. The most common is the rhinovirus, which causes about 10% to 40% in the case of the common cold. These cold viruses enters your body through your nose or mouth and are easily spread. You are most likely to catch the common cold if you are excessively fatigued, have emotional distress, or even if you have allergies with nose and throat symptoms.
How do I know if I have common cold symptoms?
If you are experiencing a sore throat followed by clear, watery nasal drainage; sneezing; a tired sensation; a low fever (usually below 101° F); and a mild cough, chances are you have caught the dreaded common cold.
How long will I be sick?
Common cold symptoms usually last anywhere from a day to three days after you are infected by the cold virus and usually last for about three to seven days (though you may feel congested during the week to follow). The first three days are when you are most contagious, so be sure not to pass the cold virus to your loved ones.
How do I treat it?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold. But fear not, there are treatments to take to attack your cold symptoms .. but not the cold virus, itself. Cold medicines and treatments can lighten your symptoms, but are not the perfect remedy for every single person; after all, everyone’s body reacts differently with a virus. It all really depends on your cold symptoms – if you have a nasal or sinus congestion, a decongestant cold medicine is best (though, it can make people hyper and keep them awake). Those with runny noses and sneezes should take antihistamines, which often make people drowsy.
To treat your nasty cough, there are various methods to go; not all doctors agree on the same methods to treat a cough, but depending on what you prefer, you can get an over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrup to suppress coughs, or one to help loosen thick mucus build-up to cough it up. If anything, your doctor can prescribe a stronger prescription.
The Flu: Misery business
Commonly known as the flu, influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by (what else?) influenza viruses. It can be mild or severe, and in some cases it can lead to death. Most healthy people can recover without much complication, but older people, young children, and others with certain health conditions are at a higher risk for serious complications.
How do I know if I have flu symptoms?
The flu season usually hits when you notice a number of little kids staying home from school; eventually, the flu spreads with similar infections to other age groups. Symptoms usually come on suddenly, with high fevers, headaches, tiredness (which can usually be extreme), dry coughs, a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting.
How does it spread?
The flu usually spread from person to person in respiratory droplets (when people with the flu cough or sneeze), or by touching something with the influenza virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Infected adults can pass the flu onto others from one day before the symptoms arise, up until five days after getting sick.
How do I treat it?
The most effective way to protect yourself from the flu is by getting your flu vaccination every year. If you were unable to get the flu shot and are home sick with the virus, you can either go to the doctor to get proper, stronger medication (and please do so, especially if your illness worsens!) or attack the flu virus from the comfort of your own home, one symptom at a time:
Overall aches and congestion: Breathe in aromatic steam, take a warm shower, increase liquids, use moist heat compresses.
Stuffy nose: nasal saline irrigation, saline (salt water) nasal sprays, decongestant nasal sprays.
Coughing: OTC cough syrup, cough drops or hard candy.
Scratchy throat and congestion: expectorants (Robitussin, Mucinex), hot chicken soup with spices (adding garlic, ginger, chili peppers, horseradish).
Nighttime congestion and can’t sleep: humidifiers, OTC nasal strips.
Bronchitis: Sounds like a name of a dinosaur, probably because you’ll sound like one
When the tubes that carry air to your lungs are inflamed and irritated, the tubes will swell and produce mucus. This makes you cough, and this mean bronchitis.
There are two types of bronchitis: Acute bronchitis usually lasts for about two to three weeks; most healthy people get better without any long-term problems. Acute bronchitis is often caused by a virus; people get acute bronchitis after having an upper respiratory tract infection (the cold or the flu) or by bacteria. Chronic bronchitis keeps coming back and can last a long time (especially for people who smoke!) Chronic bronchitis can lead to at least three months of coughing with mucus for three months out of a year for at about two years in a row.
How do I know if I have bronchitis symptoms?
A cough is probably the main symptom of acute bronchitis. It may be a dry, hacking cough at first (not producing any mucus), but may lead to a more productive cough a few days later. In a productive cough, mucus maybe clear, yellow, or green, occasionally with small streaks of blood. Other symptoms include a general feeling of tiredness, a sensation of tightness, burning, or dull pain in the chest (usually worse when breathing deeply or coughing), hoarseness, wheezing when breathing, and a mild fever (usually below 101° F). A higher fever may indicate pneumonia. If you suspect that your case of acute bronchitis may be pneumonia, call your doctor as soon as possible and schedule an appointment.
How do I treat it?
Acute bronchitis usually goes away in two to three weeks. Home treatment is usually all that is necessary to chase the illness away:
Relieve coughing by drinking a lot of fluids and taking nonprescription cough suppressants. They can help you stop coughing, and expectorants can make coughing easier by building up mucus. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they can cause you to lose fluid and can lead to dehydration. Hold off on the cigarettes, if you smoke. Get some rest so your body will have the energy to fight the infection. Use nonprescription medication (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) to relieve fever and body aches. Breath in moist air from a humidifier, hot shows, etc.) to keep mucus in your airways moist to ease your coughing.
If anything, go see a doctor. Antibiotics aren’t necessary, but can be used to treat people who are at increased risk for complications.
Above anything, make sure that you read the labels before taking any sort of medication (especially when medicating a child). If your sickness worsens, go see a doctor instead of staying home miserable and wasting your [very few] sick days from work!
Feel better soon!
