Are Your Shoes Causing Your Urinary Tract Infections?

Are you forever in high heels? Your stilettos just may be the cause of your urinary tract infections (UTIs). Sounds crazy, but according to Larrian Gillespie, M.D., a Beverly Hills urologist, it's true!

High heels make the pelvis tilt forward and the back curve out. This causes lordosis, a condition that creates pressure on the sensory nerves in your lower spine. When the nerves are compromised, your bladder can't empty properly, and the next thing you know, you've got a UTI.

Take this test to see if your shoes are too high. Put on your heels and check your side view in a full-length mirror. If you have an arch in your back, you're setting yourself up for problems, says Dr. Gillespie.

If you're like my good friend, and just can't forgo the heels, you should start working on strengthening your stomach and back muscles, which will help stabilize your pelvis. See how the star trainers of The Biggest Losers recommend you do so at http://www.prevention.com/biggestloserfitness/?searchType=slideshows

Source: Fitness, October 2007

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Health Insurance Woes

38 percent of women are struggling with medical bills, and 33 percent of those who are insured can't afford to get the care they need. For health insurance options, go to womenshealth.gov/faq/healthins.htm.

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Walk Faster, Live Longer?

A fast stride may mean living longer, reveals a National Institutes of Health study. Adults in their 70s who could walk 400 meters (about 1/4 mile) in 5 minutes were 30% less likely to die in the next 5 years compared with their peers who took 6 minutes to cover the same distance. "It's never too early to test your pace," says author Eleanor Simonsick, PhD. Ways you can do so:

1. Use a 1-minute benchmark. Strive to hit 100 steps or more in 1 minute and hold that pace (check your watch periodically).
2. 20 minute mile. Try to walk a mile in 20 minutes or less.
3. Count your steps with a pedometer. Aim to take 3,000 steps or more within 30 minutes or 1,000 in 10-minute bouts.

Here's a pedometer that will not only talk to you, but will count the calories you've burned too!

Source: Prevention December, 2007

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What Vitamins Should You Take?

I personally believe in supplements. I think I feel better and have more energy when I take them regularly. Does that mean that you need them too?

In an interview that aired this morning on Good Morning America, Doctors Oz & Roizen said that of the over 21 million people that took the Nutrition Assessment at RealAge.com, less than 1% get the right amount of vitamins and minerals from their diet.

So what vitamins do you really need?

• The Doctors said that 60% of people don't get enough Vitamin D. Vitamin D is good for immune function and preventing cancer. You can get it naturally from sun exposure or by supplementing with Vitamin D3.


• The nine B vitamins are important for energy, brain, nerve, and heart functioning.


• A,C & E. These antioxidants are critically important to letting the body do what it needs to do without getting damaged. (rusted out, so to speak) Coffee, bananas and green tea are all good sources of antioxidants.


• Calcium


• Magnesium


• DHA Omega 3s

To get a complete list of all the necessary supplements you need and the amounts you should be taking of them go to http://abcnews.go.com/images/GMA/ht_gma_book_you1_071226.pdf and see an excerpt from the Doctor's new book, You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty (You).

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The WAHM Blog.com

This is a little off-topic for me but I want to give a great big shout-out to Tara at TheWAHMBlog.com. My website, EnterToWinCandles.com, was recently featured as the Friday Freebie pick at The WAHM Blog. If you are a work at home mom (WAHM) you'll want to subscribe to Tara's site! (I did!) This is a place where you can find information on blogging, affiliate marketing, adsense, ezine marketing, running a home business, website promotion, and more. Then, on a lighter note, every Friday she'll let you know where you can sign up to win, or just get, something free! (who doesn't want something for nothing!) You can be sure that Tara knows what she is talking about and will give you, the reader of TheWAHMBlog.com, the best information because she is a WAHM with two online businesses and a successful network marketer herself. She has worked from home for 10 years with various companies, and spent almost 4 years trying different direct sales and network marketing businesses, until she found one she clicked with. She not only runs her businesses, but also works with women in business in several WAHM communities. In addition, she also enjoys helping fellow work at home moms build successful businesses and offers support for anyone looking for some motivation, or anyone looking for help on business topics. She has lots of advice for work at home moms and loves to share it! Thanks Tara!

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Why Do I Bruise So Easily?

There are a number of possible explanations. Bruises occur when a small vessel near the skin's surface leaks blood into the surrounding tissue after a trauma. Regularly taking certain medications, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or blood thinners, that thin the blood and make it less likely to clot, can make you more susceptible (even after a minor injury). When you get a bump, apply a cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes and elevate the area to minimize the mark.

If however, this tendency to bruise is new, and the marks seem to be appearing for no reason, see a doctor. It's possible you have anemia or that you're not getting enough folic acid or vitamins C or K. Also consult your M.D. if your bruises become abnormally large or painful. Occasionally, bruises can be a sign of a blood disorder or liver problem that needs to be treated.

Source: Self, September 2007

Seeing spots?

You might want to talk to your M.D.

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Could Your Antibacterial Soap Be Disrupting Your Hormone Activities?

I was sent a link to the information below earlier this week and I wanted to pass the information on to you. It's well known that antibacterial products may contribute to the problem of antibiotic resistance. But could it also be altering your hormones? I'm not advocating that people stop using antibacterial products, but as a consumer you should be educated about this possible side effect.

Antibacterial Chemical Disrupts Hormone Activities, Study Finds ScienceDaily (2007-12-08) -- A new study shows that a common antibacterial chemical added to bath soaps is an endocrine disruptor that can alter hormonal activity in rats and in human cells in the laboratory -- and does so by a previously unreported mechanism. Called endocrine disruptors, or endocrine disrupting substances (EDS), such chemicals have been linked in animal studies to a variety of problems, including cancer, reproductive failure and developmental anomalies. ... > read full article

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So You Think You Can Walk & Talk?

We've all heard the warnings about talking on your cell phone while driving. In fact several states have passed laws that make talking on your cell phone without a hands free device illegal. But now an Ohio State University study says that taking a call while walking can be risky too!

After watching 127 pedestrians, the researchers noted that 48% of cell phone users crossed the street in front of approaching cars; just 25% of those not on the phone did so.

In another experiment, people walking while talking on a cell were less likely to notice random objects in their path (fake vomit, a boot) than those not on the phone.

Being on the phone is distracting, says study author Jack Nasar, PhD, a professor of city planning. "You're not as aware of your environment. You think you can concentrate on multiple things, but even young people can't."

Source: December 2007, Reader's Digest.

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Knowing This Could Prevent Ovarian Cancer Death

Ovarian cancer, a stealthy killer responsible for about 15,000 deaths in 2007, may not be so silent after all: Recent studies show that even early stage ovarian cancer reveals itself with subtle symptoms up to a year before typical diagnosis. Now the American Cancer Society is spreading the word. When cancer is detected while it's still confined to the ovary, you have a 90% chance of being cured, but those odds drop to 20% if the cancer is advanced, which is when it's usually diagnosed. Telltale symptoms (see below) are common and often due to something other than cancer, so you don't have to worry about every bloating episode. But if symptoms occur almost daily and last more than a few weeks, the ACS recommends seeing a gynecologist.

Recurring symptoms women shouldn't ignore

• Pelvic or abdominal pain


• Bloating


• Feeling full quickly or having difficulty eating


• Having to urinate often or feeling an urgent need to go
  

Related articles: DoD ovarian cancer program seeks answers, progress
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms - Johns Hopkins Ovarian Cancer Center Of Excellence

information taken from January 2008 issue of Prevention magazine

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More Workout Motivation

While at a friends home this weekend, I came across an article in the September 2007 issue of Shape that jumped out at me. It is along the same lines as my post last week about free workout mixes for your ipod.

The article gave information on where to get workout video podcasts. Here are a couple that were mentioned:

1. Pick up 24 minutes of strength moves for your video MP3 player from Kacy Duke's In Gym series (podcastgo.com). The celebrity trainer demonstrates 15 exercises that use weight machines and easy-to-find equipment, such as dumbbells, to tone your entire body. Download for FREE!
2. When you can't make it to the studio, YOGAmazing (yogamazing.com) brings the class to you. Very inexpensive downloads that you can watch on your computer or video MP3 player. Each 15- to 25-minute workout has a specific focus, like balancing, relaxation, or ab strengthening, so you can tailor your practice to your individual goals.

Be sure to share your favorite place to get workout podcasts in a comment. If you're like me, you can use any motivation you can get!

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Meme Challenge

Well, I've put this off long enough. So here goes... I was tagged by Kathleen who writes the blog, Easing Chronic Pain for a meme challenge. The challenge rules are: *I link to the person who tagged me and post the rules for this challenge on my blog. *Share seven facts about myself. *Tag seven more bloggers and link to them on my blog.

1. There are 24 years between me and my youngest biological sibling!
2. My parents divorced after 36 years of marriage. (And in case you were wondering, divorce is hard on children, even if they are grown!)
3. I love watching TV! Gilmore Girls, The Amazing Race, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice are among my favorites!
4. I have an inherited condition called Charcot Marie Tooth. It won't kill me, but does cause problems with my feet.
5. I've been married for 20 years and my husband proposed to me at Tumbleweed, of all places! :) (still love him anyway!)
6. I HATE the cold and love the beach!
7. I enjoy photography, scrapbooking and gardening as hobbies. But tend to obsess about anything I take up and have to discipline myself to not go overboard.

Here are the blogs that I am tagging for this challenge: MamaDivas.com The Cat's Meow Must Stay Home Daily Power Walk David's "Images of Nature" Photography WeeklyPhotoPoems.com GreenTeaRocks.com Tag you're it!!

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