Risks of flu shots

Posted by Charles Waisbren on November 12, 2015 at 5:38 AM

What are the risks of getting a flu shot?  Not much......  and plenty of benefits.....

How to effectively lose weight

Posted by Charles Waisbren on November 04, 2015 at 12:33 PM

To lose weight, eating less Is MUCH more important than exercising more!
Sorry everyone…… I hate to harp on this but to get rid of those unwanted pounds, you have to take in far fewer calories than you are used to doing…. (starve)… We just don’t require that many calories to sustain ourselves and exercise just doesn’t burn away our usual caloric intake. Life indeed is unfair. We just have to eat less than 1000 calories a day to get to a trim state. Slim pickens… 
Read more:
I also recommend the FIT LIP (patent pending)..... It fits gently around the head and lips.

Why not to go on vacation

Posted by Charles Waisbren on October 31, 2015 at 8:54 AM

Oh….poor pooches…  Kennel Cough.  They are better now with plenty of rest, hydration and tender loving care.  This is one more reason why my wife and I SHOULD NOT go on vacation:  staying at home keeps the dogs safe, comfortable and disease free in the pleasant confines of our home.  Read more about the hazards of travel:

Processed meats linked to an increase in cancer risk

Posted by Charles Waisbren on October 28, 2015 at 3:08 PM

So, processed meats are now associated with an increase in colon cancer risk. It likely is true. I think that as long as we stay away from hot dog eating contests, we probably will all be O.K. I sure do love hot dogs and they are indeed an integral component of the "Waisbren" diet....

New 2015 Guidelines for mammograms from the American Cancer Society

Posted by Charles Waisbren on October 25, 2015 at 12:00 PM

BREAST CANCER SCREENING FOR WOMEN AT AVERAGE RISK
2015 GUIDELINE UPDATE FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
1) Regular screening mammography starting at age 45
2) Women aged 45-54 should be screened annually
3) Women 55 years and older should transition to biennial screening...

I guess that I have to go with the evidence based data regarding these guidelines.  Don't forget, though, these guidelines are for average risk women.  Women who have a family history of breast cancer require earlier and more frequent mammography.

Why we can't sit anymore

Posted by Charles Waisbren on October 21, 2015 at 11:18 AM

Why we can't sit anymore........ I for sure am guilty of this. It has been a long time since I was able to just sit down and read a book. However, I am not sure whether this  is a "learned" behavior like the article suggests..... It might be more "neuro-chemical" .... Regardless, I also am not sure whether this is a good or bad trait. What do you think? 

Taking blood pressure pills at bedtime may prevent more heart attacks, strokes

Posted by Charles Waisbren on October 15, 2015 at 12:00 PM

It makes perfect sense.  We know that blood pressures tend to surge in the early morning hours.  We also know that the majority of heart attacks occur early in the day.  This study shows that it is beneficial to take blood pressure medication at night rather than in morning.  It helps prevent the early morning blood pressure rise and correspondingly is associated with preventing more heart attacks.

Calcium supplementation doesn't reduce osteoporosis risk

Posted by Charles Waisbren on October 04, 2015 at 12:00 PM

New evidence is out that taking extra calcium in tablet form is superfluous.   I know that the vitamin and mineral business is BIG business and that people spend a tremendous amount of money on supplements.  However, there really is very little science behind this craze.  Eat a healthy, balanced diet and you should be just fine.

Flu shot time is upon us!

Posted by Charles Waisbren on September 14, 2015 at 12:00 PM

Oh my gosh!  Summer is over.  The flu season is upon us.  It is time to get your flu shot.  Complications from the flu can be serious and can result in hospitalization and even death for some patients. The best way to prevent flu is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that vaccinations prevented 79,000 flu hospitalizations and 6.6 million flu-associated illnesses during the 2012-13 influenza season. Vaccination not only protects you but may prevent others from getting your flu. Even if you tend to fight off most illnesses, others might not be as lucky. Infants, the elderly and people with multiple medical conditions or weakened immune systems may not be able to fight off Influenza as well as you do.  Do the right thing for yourself and others.  Get your flu shot!

Trans-fats are on the way out

Posted by Charles Waisbren on September 09, 2015 at 12:00 PM

More healthy food is on the way!  The government has stepped in and is now getting food processors to do without dangerous trans-fats as ingredients in many of the foods we eat.  It is a good idea.  There indeed is an abundance of wonderful foods and food products which taste great and are without trans-fats.  Ingestion of these trans-fats have been found to contribute to atherosclerosis and subsequent strokes and heart attacks.  We all can do without them.