I’m talking hands. Seems the newest US president is a left handed. Somehow I missed that until I watched him sign his first executive orders yesterday.

As a full blown leftie (again NOT talking politics), I find this somehow reassuring. After all, look at how lefties think…they focus on the whole picture, not just a piece here and there.

(chart from Left Handers Club)

Here’s some trivia for you – Obama is the sixth southpaw-in-chief in office since the end of World War II.

Can you guess who the other five were?

(answers tomorrow)

Post from: Healthbolt

In his first press conference, Obama seemed to think that all would be okay if they found a ‘hypoallergenic dog’. Sounds like a great plan. But according to medical experts, it’s not all that feasible. In fact, soon after the press conference, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology  (AAAAI) issued a statement saying “There is no truly ‘hypoallergenic’ dog.”

According to the Academy, there are many misconceptions regarding dog allergies, chief among them being ‘that people are allergic to a dog’s hair, and it is falsely believed that a dog that sheds less will not cause a reaction.’ Not true!

Here’s the truth. The major allergen is a protein found in all dog’s serum and this protein is shed from their skin through sweat, as well as in their saliva and probably is also in their urine. So it’s next to impossible to find an allergy-free dog.

So what’s a President-elect to do? He’s made a promise that will be impossible to back out of.

Dr Corinna Bowser, an allergy and asthma expert from Pennsylvania recommends that the Obama’s do two things before bringing any puppy home: First, dog-sit a friend or neighbors dog to see how Malia’s allergies fare, and second, set some rules about how they’ll plan on handling any allergy issues.

Brower says “”What we tell our patients is draw an imaginary line in the sand. If the child has an ER visit for asthma or needs significantly more medication, or whatever you want to determine as the line, that’s when the dog has to go. And set these rules ahead of time, because then everybody knows that’s when the dog has to go.”

Combine this advice with the AAAAI guidelines list below and the Obama might just be able to pull of his most important campaign promise.

• Visit an allergist/immunologist to diagnose the allergy and discuss treatment, which may include maintenance medications or immunotherapy (allergy shots).
• Keep the pet out of the allergic person’s bedroom. Animal dander will collect on pillows, leading to worsened symptoms at night and morning.
• Bathe the animal weekly to reduce the amount of dander shed at home.
• Replace carpeting with hardwood or other solid-surface flooring for easy clean-up.
• Vacuuming may not be effective in decreasing allergen levels, but using a HEPA filter and double bags may help.
• Wash bedding and clothing in hot water. While animal allergens are not easily removed by high temperatures, these measures may help.

(Image credit: Newscom)

Post from: Healthbolt

Tomorrow America votes and a new president will be elected.

But tomorrow’s election is not just about whether McCain or Obama wins.

There are also a number of important health initiatives on various State ballots. Here’s just a few of them…

Washington has Measure 1000, also known as The Washington Death with Dignity Act, on the ballot. It’s an initiative that asks whether to allow dying patients to get a prescription for medicine to commit suicide.

Arizona has Proposition 101 which looks at freedom of choice in health care. This initiative, if passed, would block the state from enacting a universal health-insurance plan.

Michigan has two health-related issues on it’s ballot.

First, there’s Medical Marijuana Measure that wants to “…to provide protections for the medical use of marihuana..[and]…to provide for a system of registry identification cards for qualifying patients and primary caregivers…”

Second, there’s the Stem Cell Initiative that would “…allow researchers in the state to study embryos that were created as part of fertility treatments, provided the embryos would be destroyed if they weren’t used in research.”

For a full list of ballot measures that voters throughout the country are deciding on, check out 2008 ballot measures

(source)

Post from: Healthbolt