I’m No Expert…

There are certainly many pluses to finally having the new health care reform bill. But a new one I recently overheard while visiting a college campus. It appears that many pre-med students are reconsidering a career in medicine because they fear the opportunity for wealth has gone down. In other words, students who were going into medicine for the money are changing their minds. What we will be left with are pre-med students who really want to be doctors for the sake of treating the sick and not just in for the money. Imagine going to a doctor who is more passionate about treating you  and your health than how much they make. What a refreshing change that could be!

Tags: Health, Medicine by Jay Stuart
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Ten states plan to file a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new health care reform bill. The lawsuit would challenge the bill’s provision requiring people to purchase health insurance, along with provisions that will force state government to spend more on health care services.

If successful, will they then challenge the constitutionality of Medicare and Medicaid?

Tags: Economy, Health by Jay Stuart
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The headlines for the final latest estimate of the health care reform bill is $940 Billion dollars. Read the next line of the article and you’ll see that is over 10 years or $94 billion dollars a year. To add a little perspective, imagine getting a job offer for $750,000. Most everyone would be jumping for joy. Would you still be feeling the same if the next line of your job offer letter explained it was $750,000 over the next 10 years? Or would you be angry.

So let’s take a look at US Budget  over the next 10 years (assuming no increases) and see how the $940 Billion for health reform stacks up:

• Department of Defense: $5.1 Trillion
• War on Terror: $1.4 Trillion
• Health Human Services: $700 Billion
• Dept. of Transportation: $680 Billion
• Education: $450 Billion
• Veterans Affairs: $ 450 Billion
• State Department: $380 Billion
• Homeland Security: $370 Billion

How does the $940 Billion sound now?

Tags: Economy, Health by Jay Stuart
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Twenty years ago, maybe you had your yearly physical exam. But after 50 years of age there is more to think about. You may feel 25 but at 50 something you’re at greater risk of developing disease. The good news is most are preventable or even curable when caught early. That’s why routine checkups are so much more important when you are 50 something. Here are some basic health screening tests and guidelines from the U.S Department of Health & Human Services.

Screening tests and immunizations Guidelines for Men Ages 50-64

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Tags: 50 something, Health by Jay Stuart
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There are just so many programs designed to help you lose weight. Some work; some not so much. But the basic element to losing weight and keeping it off is you, your willingness to change.

The foundation of all weight loss programs is for you to burn up more calories that you eat.  One problem is that as we age  our metabolism slows, meaning we naturally burn less calories. For example, an active 31-year-old man needs about 3,000 daily calories, but an active 50-year-old man needs only about 2,800 calories. So even if you are active, if you continue eating the way you did in your 20s and 30s, you’re going to gain weight. For men that often appears in an ever growing pot belly; for women it’s likely to appear in the hips and the thighs.

To avoid gaining weight over time, you should aim to burn up as many calories through basic metabolic function and physical activity as you take in. To lose weight burn more calories than you take in by combining increased physical activity with eating less calories (easier said than done).  To know whether you’re on track, you need to be able to estimate how many calories you need based on your age, gender and level of physical activity. The chart below should give you some basic guidelines:

Adapted from American Heart Association

¹ Sedentary means you have a lifestyle that includes only the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.

² Moderately active means you have a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.

³Active means you have a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.weight loss, over 50, 50+, 50plus, weight loss, over 50, 50+, 50plus, weight loss, over 50, 50+, 50plus, weight loss, over 50, 50+, 50plus, weight loss, over 50, 50+, 50plus, health, health, health, health

Tags: 50 something, Health by Jay Stuart
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Now that you’re over 50 you cannot eat the way you did in your 20s. The best way to stay healthy is to exercise and eat right with a well-balanced diet filled with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean animal and plant-based proteins, low-fat dairy products and heart-healthy fats. In fact, healthy eating can keep your body and mind sharp and extend quality of life. The American Dietetic Association outlines some important nutritional needs for men over 50:

• Calcium and Vitamin D to help maintain strong and healthy bones. Calcium-rich foods include:
  • Low-fat and fat-free dairy like milk and yogurt
  • Fortified cereals and fruit juices
  • Dark green leafy vegetables
  • Canned fish with soft bones
• Older adults need three servings of calcium and vitamin D every day. If you take a calcium supplement or multivitamin, be sure to choose one that contains vitamin D.
• If you fall behind on getting these nutrients, you may need a supplement separate from a regular multivitamin, since they usually do not contain enough calcium to meet recommendations.
  • Men older than age 50 need 1,200 milligrams a day.
  • Men also need 400 IU of vitamin D each day.

• Fiber helps keep bowel functions normal and is good for your heart. If you need to lose weight, fiber keeps you full longer so you do not feel hungry as often.
  • Men older than 50 need 30 grams of fiber a day
  • Good sources are whole grains, fruits and vegetables. For products with a label, choose those with at least 3 grams of dietary fiber per serving.

• Increasing potassium intake along with decreasing sodium (salt) may lower your risk of high blood pressure. Good sources of potassium include:
  • Fruits, vegetables and low-fat or fat-free milk and yogurt.
  • Choose low-sodium foods and replace salt with other herbs and spices to reduce your sodium intake.

• Healthy Fats: For weight control and overall health, limit fat calories to 20 percent to 35 percent of your diet. Most of the fats you consume should come from heart-healthy unsaturated fats including:
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • canola oil
  • walnuts
  • almonds
  • avocados
• Healthy older men without heart disease should limit their saturated fat, which comes from meat, full-fat dairy and fried foods, to 10% of your total fat calories.
• Men with high cholesterol need to cut more saturated fat from your diet; limit it to 7% of total fat calories.

Be sure to balance your calorie intake by getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week

Exercising is even more important now that you’re over 50. Exercise helps men over 50 rev up metabolism, build and strengthen muscles and increase energy levels.

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Tags: 50 something, Health by Jay Stuart
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Chocolate Linked to Lower Stroke and Stroke Mortality Risk

A new systematic review from Canadian researchers suggests higher chocolate consumption may be associated with a lower risk for incident stroke and stroke-related mortality.

Results of 2 studies showed, respectively, a 22% reduction in stroke risk for those who had 1 serving of chocolate per week and a 46% reduction in stroke mortality from weekly consumption of flavonoids in 50 g of chocolate vs no consumption. A third study showed no association between chocolate intake and stroke or death…Read more

Tags: Health by Jay Stuart
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The health care debate has triggered some powerful emotions and stances…unfortunately many appear politically based and financially motivated than rationally sound.

The people I have personally spoken with who oppose “heath care reform” (I hate that name) surprisingly spew sound bytes rather than reason. I have actually heard someone who I once thought as intelligent compare Obama to Hitler. Yes a man who wants to ensure every American can see a doctor and get the care they and their family needs is just like one of the greatest mass murderers in history. They also argue that we will be paying for those who just don’t want to work, those who are just milking a system. While that is true, these people are unfortunately mixed in with a large population of people who truly want to stand on their own two feet and who for one reason or another cannot. People who truly need our help. But at the end, there was one consistent theme as the basis of their opposition. They all said, “Why should I pay for someone else’s health care.” And this seems to be a bottom line although largely unspoken.

Even more sorrowful is that the majority of these people, at least those who I have spoke with, probably spend more going out drinking and partying in six months than they would in any additional taxes. Yes these people are the ones, and probably the only ones who would need to pay additional taxes if healthcare reform is passed. Yes these are also the people who could probably pay for most of their healthcare without insurance although it is covered by their corporate employers. Yes these people have not felt the slightest tinge of the recession. And good for them, they work hard and have worked hard for years to earn what they have. These are not people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Nevertheless, they don’t even blink at spending $250 for a single game seat to see the Yankees, but can’t see helping those who need help.

The problem may be one of priorities that have been steadily changing since the early 1980’s. It’s OK , even applauded, to earn $20 million a year to play baseball or basketball, or for a model to earn $40 million a year to stand in front of a camera or walk down a runway wearing someone else’s designs and creations; or a for financier to earn $100 million a year creating investments with no real foundation. But a policeman or fire fighter, who put their lives in harm’s way everyday to protect ours, struggle day-by-day.

Somehow America has lost its way and we need to get it back before it’s too late.

Tags: Economy, Health, Medicine, National Issues by Jay Stuart
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The regular use of sunscreen lotion might provide some protection from sunburn, but it may also have quite serious health risks – for ourselves and the wider environment.

The sunscreen industry is huge – worth billions of dollars annually. It rose to mega-profitability when a link was made between skin cancer and overexposure to the sun in the late 60′s/early 1970′s. Yet the incidence of skin cancer continues to rise even though these products are widely used.

An investigation by the Environmental Working Group of over 1,500 sunscreens and other sun-blocking products currently on the market found that 3 of 5 sunscreens either don’t protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals – or both. Leading brands were the worst offenders. Of all the preparations tested, only  92 were recommended, 1,203 scored the “caution” flag and the EWG recommended avoiding 319 products altogether.

It’s quite disturbing what’s in sunscreen. Take a look at this partial list of ingredients that can be found in many sunscreen lotions: [Read more →]

Tags: Health by Jay Stuart
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Mob politics has taken root and is growing. It’s interesting to note that opponents of healthcare reform have been promoting violent behavior as a means to shoot down the bill. “Become part of the mob!” was posted on the Web Site of Sean Hannity. Not “become part of the solution” or “Become part of the debate” but become a mob. I guess when you don’t have a valid or rationale argument the next best thing is to distort the truth and promote irrationality.

Tags: Health, Medicine, Politics by Jay Stuart
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