PINK PARTIES and HELPING HANDS(c)

 Sleep Disruptions May Arise With Age: Breathing Problems During Sleep More 
Common in Older People, Study Shows *

As people age, their breathing during sleep may become more irregular, a new 
study shows. 

That news comes from a study of 163 healthy, non-obese adults who spent a night 
at a sleep lab, with their every breath monitored as they slept. 

The researchers tracked the number of times each person's breathing was 
disrupted during sleep. Those disruptions included not breathing for at least 10 
seconds or slowdowns in breathing.

(Go to this link for complete news story) 
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/01/health/webmd/main3780852.shtml

• PROTEIN
• FAT
• CARBOHYDRATES
• VITAMINS
• MINERALS
• WATER

• Eliminate as many sources of stress as you can. For example, if crowds bother you, go to the supermarket when you know the lines won't be too long. Try renting videotapes rather than going to crowded movie theaters. Clear up the clutter in your life by giving away or throwing away the things that get in your way. A garage sale is one effective way to do this.

• If you are always running late, sit down with a pencil and paper and see how you are actually allotting your time. Say it takes you 40 minutes to get to work. Are you leaving your house on time? You may be able to solve your problem (and de-stress your life a bit) just by being realistic. If you can't find the time for all the activities that are important to you, maybe you are trying to do too much. Again, make a list of what you do during the day and how much each activity takes. Then cut back.

• Avoid predictably stressful situations. If a certain sport or game makes you tense (whether it's tennis or bridge), decline the invitation to play. After all, the point of these activities is to have a good time. If you know you won't, there's no reason to play.

• If you can't remove the stress, remove yourself. Slip away once in a while for some private time. These quiet moments may give you a fresh perspective on your problems. Avoid stressful people. For example, if you don't get along with your father-in-law but you don't want to make an issue of it, invite other in-laws at the same time you invite him. Having other people around will absorb some of the pressure you would normally feel.

• Competing with others, whether in accomplishments, appearance, or possessions, is an avoidable source of stress. You might know people who do all they can to provoke envy in others. While it may seem easy to say you should be satisfied with what you have, it's the truth. Stress from this kind of jealousy is self-inflicted.

• Laborsaving devices, such as cellular phones or computer hookups, often encourage us to cram too many activities into each day. Before you buy new equipment, be sure that it will really improve your life. Be aware that taking care of equipment and getting it repaired can be stressful.

• Try doing only one thing at a time. For example, when you're riding your exercise bike, you don't have to listen to the radio or watch television.

• Remember, sometimes it's okay to do nothing.

• If you suffer from insomnia, headaches, recurring colds, or stomach upsets, consider whether stress is part of the problem. Being chronically angry, frustrated, or apprehensive can deplete your physical resources.

• If you feel stress (or anything else) is getting the better of you, seek professional help -- a doctor or therapist. Early signs of excess stress are loss of a sense of well-being and reluctance to get up in the morning to face another day.

Sitting around.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, a key reason why men don't visit the doctor is the waiting time involved. Men's reluctance to visit the doctor anyway is simply compounded by the amount of time spent waiting.

Health Services are Feminised.
Dr Ian Banks, President of the Men's Health Forum, found that both men and health professionals feel health services make men feel unwelcome. One reason is the feminised way health practices are organised in terms of decor and bias of information towards women. Men said they wanted to see more men's magazines, men's health posters, or even movies. Why, asks Ian Banks, can't surgeries be held in bars, golf clubs, or other places men are likely to be?

Embarrassment.
Men find it difficult to discuss intimate emotions, sexual difficulties, mental health issues like stress and depression, or physical problems that can affect the bowel or genital areas. Even sharing information with a best friend can be an embarrassment for both the person and their friend. Why? men simply aren't used to it and as a result they find these situations uncomfortable and to be avoided.

No point unless there is something wrong.
Under the age of 40, men mostly view doctors in terms of emergencies, surgery, or dealing with sick people. In these terms men see little point in visiting the doctor unless something is very obviously wrong with themselves.

Men aren't socialized into visiting the doctor.
John W. Saultz, M.D., professor and chairman of Family Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University points out that from around the age of 16 girls continue to visit the doctor for routine gynecologic or maternity care whereas contact for men often stops. This helps to explain why waiting rooms are nearly always filled with women, children and older people. This is a situation many men find uncomfortable and have difficulty associating themselves with.

'Suck it up'.
From a young age men are socialized into internalizing their emotions and their physical discomfort. In some male-centred occupations these 'qualities' are actively encouraged. Subsequently many men who want to disclose information about their mood state, or even their physical state, don't know where to start.

Defects are signs of weakness.
This relates to the socialization issue. Not only do visits to the doctor signal illness or an inability to cope, it can appear to many men, to say something about masculinity. A lot of men would simply prefer to grit their teeth and hope 'it' will go away.

Fear of being judged.
A common concern in men is that their problem or physical state is something unique. Nothing could be further from the truth and the chances of your doctor never having come across your situation before are so small, they don't merit much thinking about.

Men exaggerate the negative qualities of healthcare provision.
As part of their rationale, many men find reasons why health services are inadequate, a waste of time, over-costly, etc. Sometimes this is little more than an excuse, but there are occasions when a visit to the doctor leaves men feeling genuinely dissatisfied - and this can be for any number of reasons.

Doctors aren't equated with preventative health.
From the age of about 40 onwards men generally have to see their doctor more regularly. At this point they may start to see the benefits of screening rather than waiting for something to go wrong.

Regular doctor visits can save men's lives

Unfortunately, men avoid going to the doctor, even in the face of some pretty compelling evidence that gettng in to see a doctor -- even when they don't have a specific problem -- is a good idea. Evan Kligman, M.D., and Frank A. Hale, Ph.D., authors of the "Health Maintenance for the Adult" chapter in the Manual of Family Practice, point out minimum preventive health recommendations that all men should take:

Men's Health: Man(ual) Repair

Author: Mark Teich

The following guidelines of preventative measures are a roadmap to better health for men.

Men often take better care of their cars than themselves. A tune-up every 3,000 to 5,000 miles? Of course. Check the brakes at 30,000? Without question. Ping in the engine? Get to the garage. If only they were as zealous about their own bodies and as responsive to anatomical warning signs.

Adapted for Psychology Today by Matthew Mintz, associate professor of medicine and director of the primary care clerkship at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., the following guidelines draw from the U.S. Preventative Health Services Task Force.

• Tune-up schedule: See a doctor twice in your 20s, thrice in your 30s and four times in your 40s. From 50 on, get checked annually.
• Fuel: Have no more than two alcoholic drinks a day. Don't smoke. Eat varied foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and animal and vegetable protein. Limit saturated fat.
• Revving the engine: Be physically active at least 20 to 30 minutes most days of the week.

ROAD TESTS

• Cholesterol: Have this blood test every five years, starting at age 35. Start at age 20 if you smoke or have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family.
• Colorectal cancer: Have a colonoscopy at age 50 and every 10 years thereafter; start earlier and do it more often if colon cancer runs in your family.
• Prostate cancer: Have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and/or digital rectal exam yearly starting at age 50, earlier if prostate cancer runs in your family.
• Blood pressure: Have this checked at every physical (see the tune-up schedule above).
• Diabetes: Also at every physical, have a blood sugar (glucose) test; this is especially important if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Obesity: Each time you go for a checkup, have your doctor measure your height and weight to calculate your body mass index—a calculation of weight and height to gauge total body fat in adults. If it's greater than 25, see what you can do to lose weight.
• Emotional/sexual thermostat: Your doctor should ask about your recent sexual history to assess your risk for sexually transmitted diseases and should check on your recent emotional history—have you felt down, sad or manic? Depending on your answers, further tests or a referral may be in order.

LUBE JOBS

• Aspirin: Talk to your doctor about taking a daily baby aspirin if you are older than 40, or if you are younger than 40 but smoke or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
• Flu shot: Every year starting at age 50.
• Tetanus-diphtheria shot: Every 10 years throughout your life.
• Pneumonia shot: Once at age 65—earlier if you have health problems like lung disease.

Spot Breast Problems and Deal with Them

Gynecomastia in Men
Between the ages of 10 and 25, swelling under the nipple may suggest a condition known as gynecomastia. Hormonal changes during adolescence can sometimes result in swelling of the male breast. Gynecomastia may last a few months and there is usually nothing to be concerned about. See your doctor if breast development increases or if you are at all concerned. Gynecomastia may also occur as a result of some medications or if you are taking hormones -- discuss this with your doctor.

Runner's Nipple & Men
Red, sore, cracked or blistered nipples are often associated with irritation caused by loose clothing rubbing against the skin. Apply some petroleum jelly or some antibiotic ointment, or cover the affected area with an adhesive bandage.

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