Cooking is my New Hobby

Thanks for the post from Sylvester Campbell

I really like to cook, as I think I’ve told you guys before, and I’ve recently been watching a lot of cooking shows on TV. I especially like anything starring Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa since I think what she makes is just divine! I can’t afford half of the ingredients she uses but I would give anything to spend a weekend at her Hamptons house! Ever since I got Direct TV I get the Food Network, so I’ve been spending a lot of time watching things like the Next Food Network Star and shows like that. I would love if I was able to star in my own television cooking show but for now I guess I’ll just hang out in my home kitchen and keep cooking for my own family! I know they don’t mind and sometimes I let my daughter sit in front of me while I narrate for her what I’m doing. Maybe I’m destined to have my own cooking show, after all! You never know!

Department of Health and Human Services Drops Plans to Secretly Shop for Doctors

A few days ago the news was leaked that the Government was intending to secretly make appointments to see doctors. It was a secret shopper style program where doctors offices across nine different states would be called by a survey group from the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. The goal of the proposed plan was to determine if there was any form of bias in doctor's offices that were accepting new patients based on what kind of health care coverage the prospective patient claimed to have.

On Tuesday, following an outcry from politicians and doctors, a spokesman for Health and Human Services stated, “After reviewing feedback received during the public comment period, we have determined that now is not the time to move forward with this research project. Instead, we will pursue other initiatives that build on our efforts to increase access to health care providers nationwide.”

Have you heard about the $10,000 Caregiver of the Year Award?

I was looking at Caregiver related headlines and spied this brow lifting bit...

Caregiver Of The Year Award Seeks Entries For $10,000 Award

It seems that the Homewatch CareGivers and the National Family Caregiver Association (NFCA) have cosponsored the National Family Caregiver of the Year Award to help honor the sacrifices that caregivers make in caring for their loved ones.

Find out more about the Family Caregiver Award in this article. People have until July 29, 2011 to nominate caregivers and the caregiver needs to have provided care for the individual within the 12 Months preceding July 29, 2011.

Topamax Lawsuit

March 4, 2011 – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety announcement on Topamax, a topiramate drug used, either alone or in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of epileptic seizures and to prevent migraine headaches.

The announcement is based on information collected from human data that lead the FDA to reclassify topiramates, such as Topamax, from a Pregnancy Category C drug, to a Pregnancy Category D drug.

Pregnancy Category C drugs are those that testing indicated may cause birth defects, while a Pregnancy Category D drug is one that has shown positive evidence for risks to the fetus based on data gathered from human usage.

If you took Topamax while pregnant, you could have just cause to file a Topamax lawsuit for compensation to assist in paying the costly medical bills needed to treat your child's birth defect. Personal injury lawyers O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath would like to invite you to contact them for a consultation.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath
Personal Injury Lawyers
808 West Avenue
Austin, TX. 78701

phone: 512-494-9949

Note that in their safety announcement the FDA stated that there are cases where the risks of taking Topamax, and other topiramates, by pregnant women may be acceptable due to the specific benefits of the drug in the treatment of epileptic seizures.

Exercise can help prevent silent stroke

Rresearchers at New York's Columbia University and Florida's University of Miami have published a study that included roughly 1,200 older people, most in their 60's, who had no history of stroke at enrollment. Each participant completed a questionnaire that included questions on how often and how intensely they exercised.

After six years, with the average range of participants now at age 70, the participants were given magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. Approximately 16% of the participants (197 persons) had small lesions that were indicative of what are called silent strokes.

Those who had reported they engaged in moderate to intense exercise were found to be 40% less likely to have lesions than people that did not exercise. The difference remained the same even after researchers included other factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

 Light exercise, defined as activities such as golf, walking, bowling and dancing, while having health benefits, did not seem to have any contributing factors in lowering the risk of silent strokes.

So, what is needed to help lower the risk of stroke? The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of intense activity. Moderate to intense activities include activities such as brisk walking, gardening, housework, swimming, jogging, hiking, biking or tennis. The important factor is to work with you healthcare professional to create a plan for you, based on your health needs and fitness level, that will help you meet the suggested activity level or work up to that level.

FDA Warns 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) may increase risk of high-grade prostate cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning today about several drugs that can increase the risk of prostate cancer.

The drugs are known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) and are a class of prescription medication used in the treatment of the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. The FDA statement says that the drugs affected by today's warning are:

Drugs in this class are finasteride (marketed as Proscar [finasteride 5 mg] and Propecia [finasteride 1 mg]) and dutasteride (marketed as Avodart). Dutasteride is also available in combination with tamsulosin under the brand name Jalyn.

Avodart, Jalyn, and Proscar are indicated for the treatment of BPH symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate. Avodart and Proscar are also approved to reduce the risk of urinary retention or surgery related to BPH.

Propecia is only indicated for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in men.

The lables of all 5-ARIs are being revised based on two studies that examined rather Proscar and Avodart reduced the risk of prostate cancer. The studies confirmed an overall reduction in the risk of lower-grade forms of prostate cancer, however, they also showed an increased risk for high-grade prostate cancer.

The FDA advises anyone taking 5-ARIs to consult their healthcare professionals about the risks and benefits of the medications and possible alternate medications that might have the same benefits. Men are encouraged to not stop taking medications unless directed to by their healthcare professional.

FDA Safety Announcement on Topamax and Pregnancy

The FDA recently issued a safety announcement for the prescription drug Topamax, concerning the risk of birth defects when taken by pregnant women.

The law office of personal injury lawyers O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath would like to alert parents of children born with a cleft palate or related birth defects that the birth defect might not be their fault, instead it could be the result of known side effects of the drug Topamax if the mother took the prescription medication during the first trimester - a period when the mother may not even have known yet that she was pregnant.

If you feel that the prescription medication Topamax might have been responsible for your child being born with a birth defect the law office of O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath would like to invite you to contact them for a free Topamax lawsuit consultation:

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath
Personal Injury Lawyers
808 West Avenue
Austin, TX. 78701

phone: 512-494-9949

Note that in their safety announcement the FDA stated that there are cases where the risks of taking Topamax, and other topiramates, by pregnant women may be acceptable due to the specific benefits of the drug in the treatment of epileptic seizures.