Many people are reluctant to learn or perform CPR because they think it’s too difficult or they are apprehensive about doing mouth-to-mouth. Forty-four percent of adults say they would not perform CPR because they’re not confident in their ability, according to a national American Heart Association survey conducted in 2008.
However, there’s a two-step technique called Hands-Only CPR that we should all learn. The technique involves calling 9-1-1 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest until professional help arrives.
“For years the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest has been abysmal,” said Clyde Yancy, M.D., American Heart Association …read more

With any drug, patients and doctors must weight the benefits against the risks. It may be time for postmenopausal women on antidepressants to talk with their doctors about potential risks in light of a recent study.
A new six-year study with 136,293 study participants (aged 50 to 79) has revealed that antidepressants carry a small, but statistically significant increased risk of stroke and death for postmenopausal women.
Despite these study results, the benefits of antidepressants may outweigh the risks for some postmenopausal women. Concerned women should speak with their doctors. Stopping antidepressants without a doctor’s approval could be dangerous.
Researchers found that postmenopausal …read more

Did you know that a separated shoulder really isn’t a separated shoulder? According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, “A shoulder separation is not truly an injury to the shoulder joint. The injury actually involves the acromioclavicular joint (also called the AC joint). The AC joint is where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the highest point of the shoulder blade (acromion).”
Further down the AAOS page, they say that a separated shoulder “can range from a little change in configuration with mild pain, to quite deforming and very painful.” I can testify, whole-heartedly, about the “very painful” part. Without a doubt.
Fifteen …read more

More women are concerned about how they look for a job interview than for their wedding!
The recent “Grapefruit Guide to Glamorous Moments Poll” by the Florida Department of Citrus revealed that 75% of women surveyed consider job interviews to be the most important moment to look good, followed by wedding day at 69%.
Other days that women want to look their best include: weddings of friends, first dates, class reunions, holiday parties and a night out.
The most common goal, cited by 83% of women, was having great hair at a “glamour event.” The survey participants included 1,050 women ages 25-54. The research …read more

The idea of gender-specific shaving cream or shampoo was probably cooked up by advertising agencies in the 1940s. I’m taking a wild guess, but that sounds about right to me. The lovely feminine packaging sells us on products. And can you blame men for choosing a more masculine-looking package of soap?
All this may matter. Consumer Reports found that women are often charged more than men pay for similar products like shaving cream, pain relievers, body wash, antiperspirants, eye revitalizers or razors. They discovered that products directed at women by packaging or name often cost up to 50% more than similar …read more

Your teeth and your gums say a lot about your state of health. Visiting the dentist does more than just keep your teeth clean and fixed up. A dental visit allows your dentist to look for problems that may otherwise be missed. And now, research is showing another medical connection: gum disease and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers looked at the records of 2,923 adults, none of whom had yet been diagnosed with diabetes. The researchers collected data that could indicate that the subjects could be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, such as age, weight, and other diabetes risk factors …read more

It might be tricky determining exactly what affect selenium supplements have on your body. Selenium is a trace essential mineral found in foods like veggies, meat, fish, butter, garlic, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, raisins and more. One A Day Women’s daily vitamin contains only 29% of the daily value of selenium. And maybe that’s a good thing.

For most women, there appears to be no need to stock up on extra selenium supplements. Doing so may actually increase your cholesterol.
Researchers from the University of Warwick found that too much selenium may raise cholesterol by nearly 10%. Dr. Saverio Stranges, who …read more

For a good long while now experts have told women with painful periods (known as dysmenorrhea) to exercise more. The idea is that exercise releases beta-endorphins to help block pain and lessen effects of prostaglandins which cause muscle contractions. It’s easy to find that exercise advice all over the Internet.

It sounds good, but UK researchers are saying exercise doesn’t help with menstrual cramps. After studying 650 university students, Birmingham University researchers found no link between exercise and period pain. Their findings were published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Among women in the study, 28% reported moderate or …read more

Instead of fulfilling your New Year’s weight goal with a low-carb diet that’s high in fat, a better choice for your heart might be a low-fat, high-carb diet with exercise. According to a new study, high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets won’t help you lose weight faster, and they could be putting you at risk for heart disease.
New research lead by Dr. Steven Hunter from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast reveals that the risks of high-fat, low-carb diets far outweigh any potential benefits of weight loss reaped by overweight and obese people.

The study participants included a group of obese pre-diabetic adults. Researchers …read more

That Darn Menopause Does What?
Menopause could be at the heart of your recent rise in cholesterol. A new study has shown that it’s menopause and not aging that causes a sharp rise in cholesterol levels of menopausal women of any ethnicity. The cholesterol rise is a problem since it may contribute to heart disease later in life.
Almost all of the women in the study experienced a rise in cholesterol levels around the two years surrounding the final menstrual period. The study is important because the findings can help women be more aware of risk factors for heart disease which may …read more